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Massachusettes Lt. Governor's Office
For Immediate Release - March 06, 2015
Governor Baker Appoints Paul Sagan to Chair Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
Announces Transparent Process for Evaluating PARCC versus MCAS
BOSTON – Governor Charlie Baker today announced the appointment of Paul Sagan to chair the 11-member Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE). Among other duties, Sagan will spearhead the Board’s effort to solicit public input on the Commonwealth’s upcoming choice between two alternative statewide student assessments, Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC), and the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS).
“Paul Sagan brings decades of executive and philanthropic experience to the Board, but more importantly, a deep commitment to expanding high quality educational opportunities for Massachusetts’ students, especially in our highest need communities,” said Governor Baker.
“In addition to asking Paul to take on this important leadership role, I am directing Paul and the Board to initiate a series of public hearings around the state, which will solicit feedback from educators, parents, students and local officials on this Spring’s administration of the PARCC exam and the real-world impact of Common Core standards on teaching and learning,” said Baker. “I am deeply committed to standards-based education grounded in a high-quality assessment system, which together support continuous improvement in our schools with accountability for results. I am equally committed to a transparent and inclusive deliberative decision-making process.”
“Paul understands the critical role public schools play in providing our young people with the knowledge and skills they need for future success in their pursuit of higher education and careers,” said Secretary of Education Jim Peyser. “His sense of urgency about ensuring these opportunities are available to all children is inspiring.”
“I look forward to working with Paul Sagan, and I welcome Governor Baker's plans to gather additional information during our trial of the PARCC assessment,” said Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Mitchell D. Chester. “The hearings and analysis will only strengthen the Board's discussion and vote this fall."
Mr. Sagan will replace BESE Board member Karen Daniels whose term expired in January. Outgoing Chair Margaret McKenna will remain on the Board; her term expires in 2019.
“I am honored to be joining the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, and I welcome the chance to work with the Baker-Polito administration to close the achievement gap and ensure that all students across the Commonwealth have access to a world-class public education,” said Paul Sagan. “As an immediate matter, I look forward to establishing an open and fair-minded process to inform the administration and the Board about how best to maintain and strengthen the state’s well-earned reputation for high-quality standards and assessments.”
“I want to thank Karen Daniels for her dedication and hard work on behalf of the children of Massachusetts, not only through her service to the Board, but through her many years as a public school educator,” said Peyser. “I am equally grateful to Margaret McKenna for her service as board chair and I look forward to working closely with her in the years to come.”
The Governor has asked the new Chair to schedule not fewer than five public hearings around the Commonwealth, starting in June, to solicit public comment from local officials, educators, employers, parents and students, specifically on the implementation of the PARCC tests this spring and the impact of Common Core and PARCC on curriculum and instruction. In addition, the Governor also directed the Secretary of Education to convene an independent advisory group of researchers to assist him in analyzing and synthesizing the relevant studies and to design and oversee additional data collection needed to fill in gaps in the existing research, especially with regard to the predictive validity of the two competing tests.
About Paul Sagan:
Sagan is an Executive in Residence at General Catalyst Partners in Cambridge, MA. From 1998 until 2013, Paul Sagan was a member of the executive team of Akamai Technologies, Inc., a leading Internet services company based in Cambridge, where his responsibilities included serving as CEO, president and chief operating officer. Prior to joining Akamai, Sagan served in various executive positions at Time Warner Cable and Time Inc., where he helped to found several Internet businesses. Sagan was also a senior advisor to the World Economic Forum, and he has served on the boards of numerous advisory panels and educational organizations including for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, the Alliance for Business Leadership, Massachusetts Business Leaders for Charter Public Schools, and the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee. In addition, Sagan is a director of three public companies with headquarters in Massachusetts: Akamai, EMC Corp. and iRobot Corp. In addition, he is a director of VMware, Inc. He received his Bachelor of Science from Northwestern University and was a Fellow at the Shorenstein Center at the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government. Sagan is a resident of Cambridge.
About the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education:
The mission of the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is to strengthen the Commonwealth's public education system so that every student is prepared to succeed in postsecondary education, compete in the global economy, and understand the rights and responsibilities of American citizens, and in so doing, to close all proficiency gaps.
For more information on the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, please visit:
Massachusettes Secretary of State
William Francis Galvin Secretary of the Commonwealth Contact: Brian McNiff September 26, 2011 Telephone: 617-727-9180 SECRETARY GALVIN ANNOUNCES MASSACHUSETTS ARCHAEOLOGY MONTH OCTOBER 2011 Secretary of the Commonwealth William F. Galvin announced today that October is Massachusetts Archaeology Month 2011. Organized by the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) and the State Archaeologist, this is the 20th annual celebration of archaeology in Massachusetts. Archaeology Month features more than 95 events across the Commonwealth that promote awareness of the Commonwealth’s rich archaeological past through fun and engaging programs. This year’s theme is “Step Back in Time.” “During Archaeology Month, there is something for everyone who has a curiosity about the past. I urge everyone to take part in these events to gain a deeper knowledge of Massachusetts and its archaeological past,” said Secretary Galvin, Chairman of the Massachusetts Historical Commission. Archaeology Month offers a variety of programs for adults, children, parents, and teachers. Programs highlight local history as well as archaeology around the world. Events include lectures, tours, storytelling, exhibits, walks, and demonstrations; and will be held in the following communities: Acton, Amesbury, Andover, Barnstable, Billerica, Boston, Brewster, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Concord, Deerfield, Dedham, Dennis, Duxbury, Eastham, Edgartown, Greenfield, Groveland, Hamilton, Hatfield, Haverhill, Hinsdale, Hull, Ipswich, Lowell, Marshfield, Medford, Melrose, Middleborough, Nantucket, Newton, North Adams, North Reading, Norwell, Palmer, Pittsfield, Plymouth, Quincy, Salem, Sandwich, Shrewsbury, South Hadley, Sturbridge, Topsfield, Waltham, Wayland, Wellfleet, West Brookfield, Westwood, Winchester, Worcester, and Yarmouth. Highlights include: a Family Archaeology Fair at the Museum of Science in Boston, maritime archaeology at the Cape Cod Maritime Museum in Barnstable, a tour of an industrial archaeology site in Greenfield, and a flintknapping demonstration in Hinsdale. The Calendar of Events and Poster for Massachusetts Archaeology Month are available for immediate download at MHC’s website (www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc). Printed posters and calendars are also available, call the MHC 617-727-8470 to receive a mailed copy. In addition to the event listings, the calendar includes information about Massachusetts museums with archaeology programs and archaeological websites. Special resources for teachers including archaeology related lesson plans are available at MHC’s website. The poster features a gentleman’s Wellington riding boot, circa 1805 to 1823, discovered at the Mill Pond Site near Dock Square and the North End of Boston, and part of the archaeological collections of the Commonwealth, which are curated at the MHC’s Archaeological Curation Center. The Massachusetts Historical Commission is the office of the State Historic Preservation Officer and the State Archaeologist. It was established in 1963 to identify, evaluate, and protect important historical and archaeological assets of the Commonwealth.
Maryland Public Safety
March 3, 2015 - Remember to Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery This Sunday
Deputy State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey reminds us that when we change our clocks this Sunday, March 8 we should also change the batteries in our smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms. “We have had 12 fire deaths so far in 2015, and the one common thread between many of them is the lack of working smoke alarms,” said Deputy State Fire Marshal Ostroskey.
Check on Elderly Relatives and Neighbors Too
“Please take a moment to make sure your own alarms are working, and then check on the ones in the home of a parent, grandparent or older neighbor,” Deputy State Fire Marshal Ostroskey said. This winter has been brutal and half of the 12 people who have died in fires so far in 2015 were over the age of 65; in 2014, seniors accounted for 53% of the fire deaths.
Replace Aging Alarms
“While you’re changing the batteries, take a minute to check on the age of the alarm too,” said Ostroskey. “The sensing technology wears out eventually and smoke alarms need to be replaced every ten years,” he added. Carbon monoxide alarms typically last 5-7 years unless they have a ten-year lithium battery. Ostroskey said, “An out-of-date alarm cannot be counted on to provide the needed early warning of danger.”
For more information on smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, or senior fire safety, visit our webpage at www.mass.gov/dfs .
City of Boston
Statement from Mayor Martin J. Walsh on Boston Police Officer Shot
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For Immediate Release
March 27, 2015
Released By:
Mayor's OfficeFor More Information Contact:
Mayor's Press Office
617.635.4461
BOSTON - Friday, March 27, 2015 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh tonight released the following statement:
"My thoughts and prayers are with the Officer injured tonight, his family and friends and the entire Boston Police Department during this difficult time. These acts of violence have no place in our neighborhoods. Our community is stronger than ever, and tonight we are thankful for all of those who put their lives on the on the line everyday to protect our City."
CIty of Worcester
Worcester Agrees to Sell Courthouse for $1.2 Million
Worcester, MA (March 19, 2015) - City Manager Edward Augustus announced today that the City has reached an agreement to sell the former Worcester County Courthouse to a New Hampshire-based developer for $1.2 million.
Brady Sullivan Properties, LLC, a $750 million company with a proven track record of historical rehabilitation, plans to convert the building into a projected 115 market rate residential apartments with 3,000 square-feet of retail space. The entire building will be preserved and renovated.
The company has indicated there is no plan to seek public funding for the project. The entire rehabilitation will be funded by private investment monies provided by the company, potentially supplemented by historic tax credit incentives that may be available for the property.
The agreement needs City Council approval. It will be on the agenda at the March 24th meeting.
"This is a huge win for the City of Worcester," said City Manager Augustus. "I'm pleased we were able to preserve this beautiful historic building and put it on our tax rolls so quickly. The redevelopment of this iconic landmark will pave the way for even more development in North Main Street."
The former courthouse, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, consists of about 250,000 square-feet located on 4.28 acres at Main and Highland Streets. Its development will continue the positive growth of recent years in the North Main neighborhood.
"This is a huge step forward for the revitalization of Lincoln Square and the North Main Street area," said the City's Chief Development Officer, Michael E. Traynor. "With this project, we will continue to build on the momentum of the highly successful Voke Lofts Apartments, adding even more vibrancy and life to the area."
Brady Sullivan is a highly qualified developer of historic properties, most recently receiving a State of Rhode Island Historic Preservation Award in 2014. The company's primary focus is rehabilitation of historic properties for residential use and its current residential portfolio consists of over 1,500 residential units. The company is currently completing an historic renovation of the Junction Shops Mill in Worcester.
"We are very excited to have the opportunity to rehabilitate the courthouse which we consider to have tremendous potential for residential units. It is a beautiful, well-built structure that Brady Sullivan is committed to preserving as an historic landmark," said Shane Brady, principal of Brady Sullivan. "We are also happy to have the opportunity to create jobs during the course of the project and to create beautiful apartments for in-town living. We expect that the courthouse will contain some of our most impressive living spaces."
The City took over the vacant former courthouse, 2 Main Street, from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for $1 on August 6, 2014. The State tried for more than five years to find a buyer for the property, but was unable to attract interest.
Thanks to the administration of then-Governor Deval Patrick and Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray, as part of the City's purchase of the property, the State agreed to provide a $3 million grant for environmental remediation and demolition work. As noted, Brady Sullivan does not want any of the building demolished. The City will conduct the planned environmental remediation work, and the date of the final conveyance of the property will depend on how long that work takes.
The City and the State will split the net proceeds of the sale.
A redevelopment plan must be submitted to Massachusetts Historical Commission, Preservation Worcester and the Worcester Historical Commission for their review and a consultation period of no more than 30 days. The City's agreement with Brady Sullivan also requires a plan for the preservation and conservancy of the General Charles Devens Civil War Memorial/Equestrian statue.
Brady Sullivan estimates a 12 – 14 month construction period.
The company has agreed to use best efforts to hire 50% of its construction labor force from qualified local companies or from qualified companies with apprenticeship programs.
City of Springfield
Press Release, Contact: Jim Leydon, Communications Director
Innovative C-3 Policing Initiative Set to Begin
Who: Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Police Commissioner John Barbieri, Hampden County Sheriff Michael Ashe, Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni, Massachusetts State Police, Neighborhood Representatives and Local Members of the Clergy
What: Launch of C-3 Policing Initiative
When: Monday, March 23, 2015 at 2:30 p.m.
Where: St. John’s Congregational Church, 643 Union Street, Springfield, MA 01109
Background
The C-3 Policing initiative, part of Police Commissioner John Barbieri’s five strategic priorities, will be formally rolled out on Monday, March 23. The Springfield and Massachusetts State Police C-3 teams will work collaboratively and gather criminal intelligence through interagency, community, and business cooperation in order to detect, disrupt, degrade and dismantle criminal activity. The Initiative looks to the citizens to participate in community meetings and start “Crime watches” in their neighborhoods.
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno stated; “I applaud Police Commissioner John Barbieri for implementing this innovation approach that not only attacks the root causes of crime but is designed to engage the community at a grass roots level and bring an umbrella of agencies, residents and families to the table and be part of the solution”.
The Springfield Police Department conducted a rigorous application and interview process of personnel selection for assignment to the C3 Unit. The Supervisors and patrol officers selected are enthusiastic, motivated and dedicated to working with the community and our partners towards safer communities and improved resident/police relationships.
Four geographical areas throughout the city of Springfield will have an assigned supervising sergeant and five officers who will work in different day off groups on the 4:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m. shift. In addition to the 4 supervisors and 20 officers assigned to the evening shift C3 unit, the initiative will be supported by the Uniformed Division supervisors and patrol officers regularly assigned to the selected areas on all shifts. The C3 unit is part of the Community Action Division, which is comprised of units that will also support the C3 Units, they are: Street Crimes Unit, Traffic Unit, Ordinance Unit, K-9 Unit and a civilian Community liaison.
The Massachusetts State Police have been great partners and will continue to collaborate with the Springfield Police Department. They assisted with the expansion of the C3 model by providing troopers with C3 expertise for six weeks of intense training for all assigned personnel. Additionally the Sheriff’s Department will continue their work on the initiative, which includes the assignment of officers who will attempt to spread the information and encourage participation in community meetings.
Captain Cheryl Clapprood will serve as Commanding Officer of the C-3 Policing Initiative along with four sergeants: North End, Sgt. Julio Toledo, South End, Sgt. Brian Beliveau, Forest Park, Sgt. Reggie Miller and Mason Square, Sgt. Devon Williams.
The goals of C-3 Policing: create safe and secure environment, promote and foster community relationships through partnership with; local and state police, community leaders and local organizations to reduce gang activity and violence and establish positive and effective youth/parental programs.
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