Nice Job

Journal story....

District has cut energy costs by $2M since 2008

MIDDLETOWN —
Middletown City Schools has saved more than $2 million since it hired Innovative Energy Solutions five years ago to oversee the energy usage in its eight elementaries.

Mark Putnam, president of the company, said it promised to create a positive cash flow when it was awarded the contract in 2008. In the five years since, the results have been “pretty amazing stuff,” he said.

The gas and electric costs at the elementary schools, which previously averaged more than $1 million a year, have dropped to $558,400, or 44.5 percent, a savings of $448,742 a year, according to Putnam. The cost per square foot has dropped from $2.13 to $1.18 in the past five years, he said, and all eight elementary schools are now Energy Star rated.

Board President Marcia Andrew said hiring the firm cost the district $132,000 a year, and so far, the company is saving the district more than $440,000 a year.

Excellent!

And now, the other side of the coin.......Journal story.....

Drugs found in student’s locker

MIDDLETOWN —
A 15-year-old Middletown student is facing a marijuana possession charge after a routine locker search at the high school uncovered a student was selling the drug in the hallways.

And the student’s arrest subsequently uncovered his alleged supplier, 36-year-old Alfred Dillingham, of Village Drive, according to Middletown police Sgt. David Birk. He was arrested and found guilty this past Friday of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Dillingham, who has multiple traffic and drug-related offenses including a felony drug conviction, was sentenced to 90 days in jail, and all but three days were suspended. However, he may reappear in Middletown Municipal Court as Birk said, “We’re talking with the prosecutor about other charges.”

90 DAYS FOR A MULTIPLE REPEAT OFFENDER WITH A FELONY DRUG CONVICTION? THE JUDGE SHOULD BE DISMISSED AND REPLACED WITH A HARDLINER AND THIS CLOWN SHOULD GO TO PRISON FOR AWHILE.

During a routine search locker search on Feb. 20 at the high school at 601 N. Breiel Blvd., a drug-sniffing dog from the Trenton Police Department indicated a narcotic was in the boy’s locker.

Inside a black backback, two small baggies of marijuana were found. The student was called to the office and after he was searched a third baggie of marijuana was found.

The total amount of marijuana was 2.3 grams. According to the report, the boy was selling the drug for $5 a gram. A court date has not yet been set.

Middletown High School Principal Carmela Cotter said unannounced routine searches are important “so that we establish and maintain a safe and secure environment for all students.”

“It is unfortunate that a student chose to bring marijuana onto our property, which will not be tolerated,” she said.

Police searched the boy’s cellphone and found text messages indicating he would meet other students around 7 a.m. in the back hallway. There were also messages to and from Dillingham, Birk said.

A search of Dillingham’s residence found more marijuana and digital scales.

Possession charges on the students involved will be pursued, Cotter said

WHAT IS THE STAFFING LEVEL AT THE HIGH SCHOOL? ARE THERE ENOUGH ASSIST. PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS AND OTHER STAFF TO WATCH WHAT GOES ON BETWEEN CLASS CHANGES? HOW DOES A STUDENT FIND A "DEAD ZONE" IN THE HALLWAYS TO DO DRUG BUSINESS WITHOUT BEING SEEN? SHOULD THE PRINCIPAL REASSESS THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE STAFF TO COVER THE DEAD ZONES? HOW ABOUT NOT ALLOWING ACCESS TO CELL PHONES, TEXTS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION WHILE SCHOOL IS IN SESSION? CONFISCATE ALL CELL PHONES AND HAVE EMERGENCY ONLY CALLS DIRECTED TO THE OFFICE. IF A KID HAS BEEN CAUGHT DEALING AT SCHOOL, THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO HAVE A COMMUNICATION DEVICE AGAIN. WON'T WORK? WHY NOT? TIME TO CRACK DOWN ON THE KIDS AND THE GAMES THEY PLAY WHILE ATTENDING SCHOOL. ENOUGH FREEDOM TO DO AS THEY PLEASE. IT HAS LONG AGO BEEN ESTABLISHED THAT THE FREEDOMS GIVEN TO THEM ARE ABUSED AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. SOMETIMES OLD SCHOOL THINGS STILL WORK. JUST GOTTA HAVE A BACKBONE TO RE-IMPLEMENT THEM. TIME TO DO SO SCHOOLS. THE COURTS ARE ALREADY A JOKE AND THE JUDGES ARE TOO KIND AND TOO LENIENT ON THEM WHEN SENTENCED. TIME TO ADD PAIN. THE SCHOOLS SHOULDN'T CONTRIBUTE TO THAT LENIENCY. TIME FOR A CHANGE. WHAT YOU ARE DOING ISN'T WORKING SCHOOLS. IT IS RATHER OBVIOUS. ENOUGH BEING NICE AND A FRIEND. THAT JUST GETS YOU TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.

justwatching wrote: Vet, You really should have posted the other side of the coin as it's own thread. Why distract from the huge savings and great story about our school district with one like this in the same thread? The district as a whole saving $300k a year is certainly more noteworthy than one shi*-bag teenager with weed.

SORRY YOU DISAGREE WITH THE PLACEMENT OF THIS POST. I WAS ATTEMPTING TO SHOW "THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY" WHICH IS OCCURING IN THE DISTRICT. IE....BOTH SIDES OF THE COIN AS WAS SAID. NEVER INTENDED FOR THE STORIES TO BLEND. WANTED IT TO BE POLAR OPPOSITES WITH REGARD TO REACTIONS. I BELIEVE THIS HAS BEEN DONE IN PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS AT COMPARISONS, BOTH IN NEWSPAPERS AND OTHER CORRESPONDENCE.