Wednesday, February 15, 2012
VOL. 12 nO. 183
LaCOnIa, n.H.
527-9299
Free
wednesday
Billings & Carty bring ‘I’m Sorry’ valentines to Inter-Lakes School Board meeting By adaM drapcho THE LACONIA DAILY SUN
MEREDITH — It seemed at last week’s budget hearing that there was no love lost between much of the Inter-Lakes School Board and board member Jack Carty and Meredith resident Mark Billings. After a week-long separation, though, the two, who had issued sharp criticism of the board, sought to patch things up at last night’s meeting. Billings, at the budget hearing, had called “unconscionable” the board’s withholding until a day before the budget hearing of details of a newly-negotiated teacher’s union contract. At the hearing, he called the contract a “spit in the face of the taxpayers,” accusing the board of failing to substantially address escalating health care costs. At last night’s board meeting, though, Billings apologized for the comments. “I was out of line. You people deserve our sincere thanks for the work see I-L page 10
A big smile for the max in a tux bearing red roses. . . & for the husband who sent them Cathy Knox was one of the many surprised recipients of flower deliveries yesterday. The dapper David Ellis donned a tuxedo to make Valentine’s Day deliveries for Heaven Scent Design of Laconia. Knox was given the two-dozen roses by her husband Tom, to whom she said, “I loved you before this, I love you more now.” (Laconia Daily Sun photo/Adam Drapcho)
LHS down to 640 students but future looks stable By Michael Kitch THE LACONIA DAILY SUN
LACONIA — Since 2004, when 825 students were enrolled at Laconia High School, the student body has shrunk by 23-percent to the 640 students who answered the bell when school opened last fall. According to the United
States Census Bureau, between 2000 and 2010 the number of school age children, between five and nineteen, fell 14-percent, from 3,186 to 2,750. The steepest drop was among those aged five to nine, whose numbers decreased by 20-percent, from 1,054 to 842. The number of 10 to 14 year-olds declined
14-percent, from 1,048 to 904. During the decade the number of households with at least one child younger than 18 decreased by 13-percent, from 1,883, 1,643, and their share of all households dropped from 28-percent to 24-percent. School Superintendent Bob Champlin said yesterday that
classes number approximately between 160 and 170 in the 13 grades from kindergarten through high school. Without significant demographic change, the current enrollment projects high school enrollment will number between 640 and 680 for at least the next dozen years. see LHs page 6
Durham administrator with local ties picked to head Gilford El By adaM drapcho THE LACONIA DAILY SUN
GILFORD — The Gilford School District announced yesterday that Danielle Bolduc had accepted an offer to become the next principal of the town’s elementary school. Bolduc is presently employed as director of instruction for Fuel Oil OIL & PROPANE CO., INC. the Oyster River School 10 day cash price* Laconia 524-1421 subject to change District in Durham and
3.79 99**
will begin hew new job on July 1. Bolduc began her education career in 1990 as a business teacher at Winnisquam High School. From 1993 to 1998 she taught at Moultonborough Academy. She has served as a technology coordinator at Chester Academy and an adjunct professor at Plymouth State University. She’s worked for Oyster River School District since 1999, beginning there as the technology integration administrator.
She grew up in Connecticut, then married Michael Bolduc, a member of the family which operates Bolduc Farm in Gilford. “I really wanted to relocate back to the Lakes Region and Gilford has an excellent reputation,” she said, adding that she’s excited for the opportunity to focus on the elementary grade level and looks forward to getting to know her new students. In the district’s announcement, Supersee BOLdUC page 10