BOS Finalize Special Town Meeting Warrant with One Article

Concerns Raised About Effective Communications in Town for Residents and Voters

by Inanna Arthen
The Board of Selectmen met on Monday, June 3 to finalize the warrant for the Special Town Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 18. The only article which will appear on the warrant is the Winchendon Public Schools FY 2025 budget appropriation, in the amount of $17,432,926. Both the dollar amount and the text of the article are identical to that in the Annual Town Meeting warrant, although some adjustments have been made to line items within the budget.

Other articles could have been added to the warrant but none were submitted to the Town Manager's office during the posted time that the warrant was open.

At the meeting, one citizen, Renee Eldredge, rose to speak. Explaining that she worked for Heywood Hospital and that the town was very important to her, Ms. Eldredge went on, "I feel that our boards need to work less in silos and more collaboratively. I know that communication is...we all need to work on that. And I think it starts with our town website. And our Town Manager being able to be present at some of these meetings. The schools are in crisis right now--again."

Ms. Eldredge said that she had a daughter in the school district and is friends with a lot of teachers. "If we don't work collaboratively, to spread the correct information across the board, with different social medias, I'm just not sure how a layperson like myself, who isn't able to attend every Board of Selectmen meeting, every School Committee meeting, every Finance Committee, every Triad meeting...that's a lot. I'm a single parent. And while I really try to do my due diligence, there's no way I'm going to hear all of them, and so I depend on all of you. You're our elected officials. We rely on your wisdom, your guidance and your judgment. And if we don't get that, the same information across the board, it makes our decision very challenging to do."

Ms. Eldredge said it doesn't matter if people "like someone on the Board or not" and that it was important to be respectful of our elected officials. "I apologize to any of you that may have gotten any backlash or any of the other departments. But people are angry. People are upset and behind the anger is the real issue, that they're afraid. They're concerned. No one seems to know what will happen to our students, our youth, come the fall. No one has an answer. All I hear is it's an unprecedented situation."

Ms. Eldredge said that someone had to know the answers, whether it was DESE (Department of Elementary and Secondary Education), the Governor or whomever. She would be happy to serve on the Communications Committee, she said. She asked if the Boards would be sharing all the relevant information before the vote on the budget at Special Town Meeting. "Because I'm not seeing that happening," she said. "It's being relayed in bits and pieces, and it's really hard." Board Chair Rick Ward said that any information that was "firm" that was known by the time of the Town Meeting would be shared.

Board member Dr. Erika Eitland said that she was aware that the town website wasn't really clear and asked Ms. Eldredge, "in your opinion, what is the most effective way to receive that information? Is it through Facebook, and having someone formal post, is it through the school?"

Ms. Eldredge responded, "It isn't just one way or two ways, it's got to be a variety of ways and that's why a Communications Committee is so important." She suggested that the town use its ability to place signs, including large banner signs suspended over Central Street, electronic signs and so on, to make people aware of important committee meetings coming up. Many people can't access ParentSquare and can't get information directly through the school district's portal.

Board member Audrey LaBrie said, "We have limited input and knowledge about school issues. I venture onto [Facebook group] Winchendon Residents on occasion, when I have some pieces of information that I think will be helpful. It does get convoluted." Longer posts may not be read past the first paragraph. "We do have a Communications Committee in charge. I would have to go back and look and see what their charge is other than negotiating Comcast and as far as annual contracts and such like that. But I've been on the Board for nine years now and communication has always been a tough nut to crack because we can only do so much."

Following this discussion, the Board voted unaimously to finalize the single-article Warrant for Special Town Meeting.

The Communications Committee is described in https://www.townofwinchendon.com/sites/g/files/vyhlif8401/f/uploads/july_town_boards_and_commissions.pdf, page 3. There are currently 3 vacancies on the Committee. Anyone interested in serving on the Communications Committee may contact the Town Manager's office at 978-297-0085, or send a letter of interest to ddennis@winchendon-ma.gov or Town Manager, 109 Front Street Dept. 1, Winchendon MA 01475.

DESE Warns Town and School District About Consequences of Not Funding Schools

by Inanna Arthen
Winchendon Public Schools released a letter, dated May 30, 2024, to Superintendent Dr. Ruthann Goguen from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), advising her of the town's legal obligations to fund education for its students.

Acting Commissioner Russell D. Johnston wrote, "In light of recent actions related to the development of the fiscal year 2025 school committee budget in Winchendon, I want to remind you of the town's obligation to appropriate sufficient funds to meet the school district's annual net school spending obligations" per Mass General Laws Chapter 70, Section 6.

After quoting the law, Mr. Johnston continued, "Failure to pass a budget in compliance with this section of the law by July 1, 2024 would place the district's fiscal year 2025 Chapter 70 aid in jeopardy. In addition, I remind you of your obligation under [Mass General Laws Chapter 71B], and the federal Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to continue to provide special education services to those students who are entitled to it despite local budgetary conditions. Any failure to provide these services will incur compensatory services liabilities to your school district in addition to impairing your ability to receive your federal IDEA grant for FY2025."

The letter was copied to Chair of the Winchendon School Committee Karen Kast.

Winchendon Winds Opens its Tenth Year with a 4-Concert Series

The word is out: Winchendon Winds concerts crest 100 attendees
Photo courtesy of Jill Nicholson Sackett

Winchendon Winds assembled in their host venue, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Winchendon
Photo courtesy of Jill Nicholson Sackett

by Jill Nicholson Sackett
And the band played on! Winchendon Winds opens its annual concert series this Sunday, June 9, at 2:00 p.m. at the acoustically "live" church sanctuary of the Unitarian Universalist Church, 126 Central Street. "Win Winds" is a 40-piece, professional-level band featuring the full array of band instrumentation including brass, woodwinds, and percussion. Founded by late music educator and Winchendon resident Dr. Jon Nicholson, the non-profit ensemble is marking its 10th year of operation. This year the ensemble performs four consecutive Sundays on June 9, 16, 23 and 30, each beginning at 2:00 pm.

Conductor Dr. Lindsay Bronnenkant, UMass Amherst music faculty, will make her debut on the podium, replacing Dr. James Chesebrough who retired last year. Lindsay has programmed four completely different concerts sure to please audiences and showcase these fine players.

This Sunday's concert theme is "Travels" as Win Winds "visits" Norway, France, Armenia, Spain, Russia and US to play melodies associated with those countries. On Sunday, June 16 they perform "Forms" showcasing different styles of music such as an overture, dance, medley and march. In that concert they will feature superb clarinetist Tim Coffey playing Rossini's technically brilliant Introduction, Theme and Variations for Clarinet and Band. The "Crown Jewels" concert on Sunday, June 23 imaginatively assembles tunes related to gems and royalty. Win Winds closes their series on June 30 with "Hidden Figures" in which the Phantom of the Opera is one of elusive characters featured.

Winchendon Winds is unique in that its membership is hand-picked and hired each year, drawing from throughout Massachusetts, and southern New Hampshire and Vermont. This year's longest commutes are Plymouth and Dover, New Hampshire; and Windsor and Andover, Vermont. Win Winds also fields four players who live right in Winchendon. The majority of its players are music teachers and/or performers that conduct or play in other ensembles throughout the year.

Concerts are free, thanks to generous support from ten area Local Cultural Councils, the Robinson-Broadhurst Foundation, and various businesses and individuals. The concerts are family-friendly and young musicians are especially welcome. The venue is ADA accessible with a wheelchair lift and ample open seating. Refreshments will be sold on the lawn before the concerts and at intermission.

Those seeking a classic concert band sound need go no further than their home town. Spend a lovely summer afternoon in Winchendon listening to one of the best wind ensembles in the region!

Dr. Lindsay Bronnenkant Takes Up the Baton as New Conductor of Winchendon Winds Concert Band

by Inanna Arthen
This season, Winchendon Winds Concert Band welcomes a new conductor: Dr. Lindsay Bronnenkant, an instructor and conductor of the Symphony Band at UMass Amherst. Dr. Bronnenkant holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music (D.M.A. in Wind Conducting), the University of Michigan, Nazareth College and the University of Rochester. A self-taught composer, she wrote her first work for wind ensemble, Symphony for Singer, at the age of 18.

Dr. Bronnenkant kindly responded to the Courier for an interview via email, as she was traveling with the UMass Symphony Band to South America for a series of concerts.

Asked, why wind ensembles? Dr. Bronnenkant replied, "I've always been interested in learning about and playing different instruments, but I've been especially drawn to wind and percussion instruments. I'm also a very visual person and have synesthesia in which I can "see" colors while listening to music, and the variety of colors that the concert band/wind ensemble can achieve with its variety of instruments intrigues me."

Her enthusiasm for working with Winchendon Winds, Dr. Bronnenkant says, is that "I'm always excited to work with musicians who really want to make music together. Community ensembles have a special place in my heart because the members of the ensemble all choose to be there in their free time, and they all come together from very different walks of life. To work with a community ensemble that plays at such a high level is especially exciting."

Dr. Bronnenkant says that she tries to consider as many factors as possible in choosing music for a program--for example, "What is the function of the concert and of the ensemble? Who is the audience? Who are the players? How much time do we have to rehearse, and how much time do we have to fill?" After those basics are established, she strives to find selections from diverse styles and historical eras, both classic and modern.

Asked what her favorite pieces are, Dr. Bronnenkant replied, "The pieces that are the most fun to conduct are probably the pieces that I, the musicians onstage, and the audience all love!" She added, "I like giving audiences nostalgic or classic works plus something new that they may not yet know they like."

It's possible that in the future, Winchendon Winds audiences may be treated to a performance of one of Dr. Bronnenkant's original compositions. This year will be devoted to music from Winchendon Winds' existing repertoire.

The Courier asked Dr. Bronnenkant how important she thinks a strong music program is for public school districts. She replied, "My response to this question could be an article by itself, so I'll try to keep this on the brief side. I think a common answer we music educators have been giving in a STEM-driven environment is that students develop mentally and physically through music education. However, having formerly been a scientist who decided to switch to a career in music, I can safely say that I was not interested in making music for any cognitive development, but because music-making is an experience unlike any other. Music is an outlet to express ourselves in a way we wouldn't normally be able to, and music-making is, in my opinion, the ideal activity in which everyone works together on the same "team" to feel a communal human experience."

Winchendon Winds will welcome Dr. Bronnenkant this coming weekend for her first rehearsal and concert of the 2024 season. The concert will be on Sunday, June 9 at 2:00 p.m. in the Unitarian Universalist Church of Winchendon, 126 Central Street--indoors, so it's rain or shine. Concerts are free to the public and the church is fully accessible.

Congratulations to the Murdock High School Class of 2024!

Valedictorian
Evelyn O'Dea

Salutatorian
Mark Quinn

Advanced Placement Scholar
Mark Quinn

Class Officers
President: Mark Quinn
Vice President: Emily Wightman
Public Relations: Alexander LeBlanc

National Honor Society
Alexander LeBlanc
Mark Quinn (Vice-President)
Breylyn Wightman (Secretary)
Emily Wightman (President)

Student Council
President: Emily Wightman
Vice President: Mark Quinn

Scholarships Awarded at Class Day and the Alumni Banquet

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