Ceiling fans and fireworks
During a 25-minute, sometimes contentious discussion at the Board of Health’s May 13 meeting, School Committee Chairman Stu Sklar and member Willie Wickman traded barbs with board members about whether ceiling fans had indeed been mandated by the Board of Health for the Harvard Elementary School. While all participants agreed that communication between the boards had been lacking, by the time the smoke cleared, Sklar and Wickman had obtained the endorsement of the health board for a modified, $8,000 ceiling fan installation at HES, and promised better communication in the future.
Health board Chairman Tom Philippou said that his board had been responding to parents’ complaints when it sent a memo on Oct. 4 of last year to Superintendent Tom Jefferson titled “Excessive Temperatures at the Schools.”
“The board feels that education suffers when the classroom temperature is high and feels that fans should be required in each space when the temperature is excessive. The Board would also like the superintendent’s office to establish specific policies for excessive classroom temperatures,” the letter states. Also attached was a copy of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s “Methods for Increasing Comfort in Non-Air-Conditioned Schools.”
As Sklar and Wickman repeatedly maintained that the memo dictated ceiling fans, both Philippou and health board member Lorin Johnson responded that the communication was a “suggestion” by memo, not a mandate, and that ceiling fans were never mentioned. Tempers flared. Wickman referred to the previous poor communication between the boards during the era of indoor air quality issues in the schools, but said that those problems had been worked out successfully with person-to-person communication. “When we got your letter, we respected what the board had to say about heat issues, and we wanted to resolve your complaints,” she said.
Johnson observed, “We sent this letter five months prior to Town Meeting, and you should have sent a letter responding to it.”
“We’re volunteers doing the best we can,” replied Wickman, agreeing that Johnson was “absolutely right.”
“I lost track of it,” she admitted. “At Town Meeting, you made it sound as if you hadn’t dictated the fans,” she continued.
“Had the Board of Health been kept in the loop, we would have been more supportive. Not knowing the numbers for the ceiling fans, we couldn’t support that,” responded Philippou. “It’s not our place to tell you how to spend money. We can support you to relieve the heat.”
When health board member Sean Doocey asked what Sklar and Wickman were looking for, Wickman replied, “Continued communication.”
“I’m all for better communication,” said Philippou. “I have no animosity to you. We identified the problem and offered a suggestion, not a mandate. We anticipate seeing what your solutions are.”
Wickman noted that the Capital Plan Committee has endorsed the ceiling fan plan, and revealed that HES had received a donation of fans, leaving only $8,000 for the installation.
“It will be on the warrant again at Town Meeting. Will you support it?” she asked.
Discussion drew to an end as Philippou made a motion, which was approved, to support the School Committee’s plans as described at the meeting.
Sklar had the final word. “We’re working on communication. We’re all volunteers. We want to resolve issues here, not in Town Meeting.”
General Store
When someone mentioned that the General Store is advertising for a barista, small talk turned to health board permits.
“Whatever equipment the previous General Store had is okay,” said Nashoba Associated Boards of Health sanitarian Ira Grossman.
“Prepared foods only,” said Sean Doocey.
Some reminisced about hot dogs on the revolving spit, pre-packaged sandwiches and pastries and coffee. A sense of anticipation was palpable.
Chairman again
As Tom Philippou nears the end of his chairmanship, with member Sean Doocey next in line for it, he asked the junior member if he would like to assume the role. After a quick ‘no’ from Doocey, Philippou agreed to continue as chairman. Next year, member Lorin Johnson will be eligible.
