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Pelham~Windham News
Volume 8 Number 16 November 5, 2010 16 Pages
by Barbara O’Brien A 12-year-old boy, who wants to
12-Year-Old Windham Resident Petitions ZBA
continue to keep a dozen egg-laying chickens at his Windham home, is going before members of the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) next week. Peter Caron, who lives on Alpine Road,
is applying for a variance from a ZBA ordinance that prohibits the keeping of poultry in a residential (A) district. Prior to going before the ZBA, however, Peter asked selectmen to waive the fee associated with applying for a variance. Peter even has Windham’s Community Development Director on his side.
In
a letter to selectmen, Laura Scott wrote, “Peter is only 12 years old and since these are his hens, he is taking the responsibility for applying for the variance, which is admirable.” “However,” Scott continued, “since
Peter is only 12 years old, he does not have the ability to pay the $114 application and abutter notification fees, which is why he is asking for these fees to be waived.” “As the Community Development
Director, I would support the Board of Selectmen waiving the ZBA fees for this specific case, due to the age of the applicant,” Scott concluded. In his own words and handwriting,
Peter wrote, “I’m asking that the fee be waived for the variance for my chickens. I’m 12 years old, my allowance isn’t much, and I have no job to pay for it.” Scott said that Peter’s mother fully
supports her son’s appeal to the ZBA, but feels that because the chickens are his pets, he should be the one to make the application and present his argument to Board members later this month. The situation came to Scott’s attention when it became a code enforcement issue. The hens are caged, Scott said, and do not
Election
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Sean Sweeney casts his ballot in Windham with the help of Ashley and Ryan
New Home Peter Caron, 12, holds one of his egg-laying chickens
roam freely around the property. Selectmen voted 3 to 1 to waive the fees
for Peter. Voting in favor were Chairman Charles McMahon, Vice Chairman Bruce Breton, and Roger Hohenberger. Voting against waiving the fees was Selectman Ross McLeod. Selectman Galen Stearns did not attend the November 1 meeting.
Explaining his decision to vote against
waiving the ZBA fees, McLeod said that Peter is the applicant, but his mother is the property owner and, as such, should be responsible for paying the fees. McLeod commented, “While it is admirable that [Peter] is going through the process, I am not in favor of waiving the fees.”
Governor Lynch Pays Special Visit
by Robyn Hatch Governor John Lynch decided to
pay a surprise visit to Center School in Windham last week. He visited the fourth-grade classes after he was unable to see them when they had a class trip recently to the State House in Concord. The students were very excited to see Governor Lynch, and were very pleased with the interest he showed in each person. Governor Lynch quizzed the students on many New Hampshire questions, and Principal Kori Becht and Assistant Principal Kathleen Bates dressed in chicken costumes for Halloween to add some appropriate humor. Everyone played an important part in this fun day; even Windham’s well-loved Mary Griffin. The students will always remember the kindness Governor Lynch showed.
Gov. Lynch asks New Hampshire questions to students Razorbacks Grades 8, 6, 5, & 4
State Championship Teams CONGRATULATIONS!
Schooling Policy Being Reviewed
by Barbara O’Brien “These are changing times in
the Windham School District,” Special Education Coordinator Tina McCoy told School Board members during a recent workshop. Many of the changes to which McCoy referred are the result of the new Windham High School, which opened in September 2009. Changes that have occurred within the Windham School District include those that pertain not to students who attend one of the four local public schools, but to those who are being home- schooled, and also want to make use of offerings the school district provides. McCoy said that administrators and other staff working within the Windham School District “respect a family’s rights to home-school” their children and “welcome these students into the school district” wherever and however appropriate. According to the policy being proposed by McCoy, only Windham students who are ages six to 21 years of age will be permitted to access certain services provided through the local public school system. Students accessing these services and programs cannot have yet graduated from a high school level program of home education or its equivalent. McCoy emphasized that students who are otherwise home-schooled are not eligible for special education services, including the formulation of an Individual Education Plan (IEP). Generally speaking, requests from a home-educated or non-public school student for services related to physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, counseling, psychological therapy, or guidance will be denied, she said.
Grade 8 team See Pages 8 & 9
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All requests by a parent or guardian of a home-educated or non-public school student for participation in an educational, co-curricular or extra-curricular program provided by the Windham School District must be
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made in writing to the principal of the school involved, as well as to the superintendent of SAU #28. The superintendent will make the final decision, after consulting with the principal of the appropriate school. The principal will make his or her decision after consulting with appropriate staff members. Home-schooled or non-public
school students must have the same immunizations and medical records on file and meet the same school district entrance requirements as regularly enrolled students. Students who are educated at home or in a non-public school may enroll in specific classes or activities, provided the following conditions are met: • There is space available in the requested class or activity; • The admission of the student won’t have an adverse affect on the class or activity; • There are no extra costs (other than nominal expenses) incurred by the school district; • The class or activity is deemed to be developmentally and/or academically appropriate for the requesting student;
• Prerequisite requirements have been met; • Transportation, other than regularly scheduled school bus service, is provided by the parent or guardian;
• No substantial administrative or staff burden is created; • The request for participation cannot be so extensive that the requesting student would therefore be enrolled as a full- time student in the school district. Non-enrolled students requesting participation in Windham School District classes or activities must notify administrators at least 30 days prior to the meeting of the first session. All requests will be processed on a “first-come, first- served” basis. In case of more than one request being received for the same program at the same time, a drawing by lots would be held.
continued to page 4- Home School
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courtesy photo
staff photo by Robyn Hatch
staff photo by Robyn Hatch
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