Lawrence School Evacuated Due to Smell of Gas

Superintendent Michael Frechette confirmed that Lawrence School was evacuated today because of a smell of gas. The smell was checked out and students were eventually let back into school. A Honeywell Alert went out to parents.

No other details are available at present, but I'm scheduled to hear from the Lawrence Principal later tonight. Any parent who received the Honeywell Alert is welcome to share the content of the alert by posting a comment to this article.

Rumors: Part 2

The Middletown EYE previously investigated a rumor circling the school district about the availability of paper for copying (see previous article). After a number of comments posted to that article, I spoke again with Superintendent Michael Frechette, via phone interview this morning, about allegations that Lawrence and Farm Hill Elementary Schools (in particular) are out of paper.

According to Dr. Frechette, a paper shortage "is not an issue." The Superintendent confirmed that he has checked with several principals and the district's business manager, and he could not find any evidence of teachers having to buy their own paper to make copies.

Frechette did say that Middletown schools do encourage donations of various supplies, but not because the school's basic needs aren't meet. He also said that the schools are trying to be more conscious of WHAT is being copied so paper isn't wasted. In the end, the Superintendent commented that he "just doesn't know where this information is coming from" because he can't find a problem anywhere.

From my own personal viewpoint, I suppose it's possible that the administrative effort to make better choices about what gets copied was interpreted as a ban on copying, but then again, I'm not a teacher or a principal and I can't say for sure who said what to whom.

I did ask Dr. Frechette specifically about the two parents who reported that they received a letters stating that homework was affected by the paper shortage, but he had no knowledge of such a letter. This of course doesn't mean said letter doesn't exist, but without a copy of it myself, I can't do much more than accept what he's said.

There is a regular Board of Education meeting tonight at 7pm in the Council Chambers at City Hall. The public is allowed 3 minutes per person to speak to the Board on matters concerning education in Middletown, so feel free to present contradictory evidence if you have it. Yours truly will be there to cover the meeting for the EYE, and I'd love to see the mystery homework letter if a copy of it exists...

Seven Year Old Spots Man With Gun Near School

From the Middletown Police Department

On May 29, 2009 at approximately 10:30AM, Middletown Police Officers responded to Lawrence Elementary School for the report of a man with a shotgun on school property. The single witness, a sever-year-old student, indicated she saw a man carrying the gun and possibly a deceased animal near the wood line to the south and east of the school. At the time, Lawrence School had a student musical concert which was being attended by numerous parents.

Middletown Police officers responded to the scene and secured the building. The school remained in lockdown for one and one half hours while officers canvassed the area. Other nearby schools, Middletown High School and Keigwin School were also locked down as a precaution. All three schools continued with class and students were released at the end of the regular school day. No suspects were located during the search and the investigation is ongoing. The suspect was described as being a white male, approximately 30 years of age wearing a black sweatshirt, blue jeans and tan work boots. Anyone with information as to the identity of this individual is encouraged to contact the Middletown Police Department 860-344-3200.

Lawrence Elementary Cleans Up on Earth Day

On Monday, April 20, 2009, a group of 3rd and 5th grade students from Lawrence Elementary School volunteered to pick up trash along Kaplan drive across from the school. Mrs. Gaboury, a 3rd grade teacher at Lawrence and Mr. Biernat, a parent volunteer took the students to help clean up this area in Middletown to celebrate Earth Day.

We would appreciate it if you would include this in your paper. We love to hear about the positive things happening in our community and were so please that these students so enthusiastically did their part to "clean up the earth". The above note was submitted by a 5th grade student, Arianna Biales.

Appearing in the picture: Back Row- Mr. Biernat- 1st grade parent volunteer and Bonnie Gaboury- 3rd grade teacherMiddle row: Sean Lenehan, Zachary Montalvo, Nolan O'Reilly, Kiana Aravalo, John Carlson, Parth Kekare, Ryan Lau, Veronica Meyer Front row: Nicole Hauck, Arianna Biales, Jayden Coughlin