Education

Students Give Haverhill School Committee a Lesson in Mathematics

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Haverhill students showed off their mathematic skills to the Haverhill School Committee at last Thursday’s meeting. The presentation resulted from a comment at a recent school board meeting that math being taught to students these days has evolved so significantly over the years, parents find they are not able to help their children with math homework. Kate Lally, mathematics supervisor for Haverhill Public Schools told the Committee the programs students are using are considerably more challenging and designed to make students think. “You are about to see examples of grade level problems requiring students to think and create conclusions in various ways. You will notice the level of complexity growing with each grade level,” she said.

Election Central

Council Takes Final Formalities in Advance of Haverhill’s Consequential General Election

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As part of a whirlwind meeting on Tuesday, the Haverhill City Council took the routine steps of approving a warrant for the upcoming general election and reminding residents of advance and convenient opportunities for voting. The consequential election Tuesday, Nov. 7, implements the city’s first mostly ward-based system and decides what new face appears in City Hall’s corner office come January. Haverhill residents will elect one candidate for mayor, four for City Council at large, one candidate for ward city councilor in each of seven city wards, one candidate in each of those same wards for School Committee as well as vote on two non-binding questions. Voting on that date start at 7 a.m. with the polls closing at 8 p.m. In addition, City Clerk Kaitlin M. Wright reminded voters early voting is also be available beginning this coming Saturday.

Haverhill

Haverhill 2023 Budget Presentation Wins National Recognition

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When budget time comes around in Haverhill, there is a lot back and forth between the mayor and members of the City Council. Last year’s budget was no exception, but the end result appears to have been an award-winning plan. Mayor James J. Fiorentini told the councilors Tuesday the budget, which he called “beautiful,” received high honors from a professional organization of public finance officials throughout the U.S. and Canada. “I’m very proud to tell you that the Government Finance Officers Association, a national organization, has awarded this budget this certificate of recognition for budget preparation and indicated that it was outstanding in four areas, as a policy document, as a financial plan, an operations guide and a communications device,” the mayor said. In a statement, the Chicago-based organization wrote budget documents must be rated “proficient” in each area under evaluation and in “the 14 mandatory criteria within those categories.”

“Award recipients have pioneered efforts to improve the quality of budgeting and provide an excellent example for other governments throughout North America.”

Fiorentini said Haverhill is one of the few cities in the country to receive the “Distinguished Budget Presentation Award” and related “Certificate of Recognition for Budget Presentation,” and gave credit to the city’s Chief Financial Officer Angel A. Perkins and the entire Finance Department.

Haverhill

Mayor says Haverhill Residents May Have Second Chance for Flood Disaster Relief

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Haverhill residents turned away for help with flood damage earlier may have another chance thanks to the city’s reallocation of federal American Rescue Plan Act money. Haverhill Mayor James J. Fiorentini told city councilors Tuesday about another approach to provide a modicum of financial help to residents impacted by the Aug. 8 deluge. The mayor explained. “We were hoping that we would get FEMA-MEMA relief.

Haverhill

Colleagues of Late Haverhill Councilor Macek Sign Off on Park Naming in His Honor

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Haverhill city councilors approved a plan Tuesday to pay tribute to former Councilor William J. Macek by naming a nearly three-acre park in his honor. Mayor James J. Fiorentini made the petition, asking the area at 90 Concord St., along Pentucket Lake, more commonly known as Round Pond, be named in his honor. Longtime friend and former Councilor Mary Ellen Daly O’Brien recounted with emotion some of the many accomplishments of the man who, with 26 years, holds the record for longest serving member of the City Council. “Not only was he on the City Council all these years, he served for one term as vice president. He was the founder and chair of the Haverhill Housing Partnership Committee.

Education

Haverhill High Government Students Show Current Events Knowledge at Council Forum

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Haverhill’s housing crisis, plans for balancing the budget, crime and Merrimack River pollution were front of mind Monday night when Haverhill High School students grilled candidates for Haverhill City Council. While the audience turnout was somewhat sparse, the questions compiled by the students, all members of the Advanced Placement Government class of instructor Shaun Ashworth, were timely. Participating candidates included, in ballot order, Thomas J. Sullivan, Colin F. LePage, Fred Simmons, John A. Michitson and Timothy J. Jordan, and all seeking a seat as one of the four councilors-at-large. Others, looking for one of the newly created ward councilor slots, were Katrina Hobbs-Everett, Ward 2; Devan Ferreira, Ward 3; Kenneth E. Quimby Jr., Ward 4; Michael Morales and Shaun P. Toohey, both Ward 5; and Catherine P. Rogers, Ward 7. On the matter of the budget, candidate Michitson received a laugh from the audience when he jokingly questioned the origin of the question.

Education

Haverhill School Committee Approves Free Sporting Event Admission for Those Over 62

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Those over the age of 62 will have free admittance to virtually all school sporting events. The Haverhill School Committee approved the change last week with Committee member Richard J. Rosa presenting a plan to resurrect a gold card program for Haverhill seniors. “These cards can be picked up at the Council on Aging located at the Haverhill Citizens Center with proof of residence and age,” he explained. Other age groups, however, may see a slight increase in the cost of admission to some events. Ice hockey tickets will cost $6 for adults while basketball, wrestling and other events will cost $5.

Education

Haverhill High Students Falling Behind Now Have Second Chance to Catch-Up

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Haverhill High School students who, for various reasons, have not earned the credits needed to keep up with their grade level may have a second chance. Haverhill High School Principal Michael J. Downs last night told the School Committee he began looking for way, other than summer school, to help students who were falling behind. To that end, he, along with a few friends, applied for a Mass Grad Grant. “Haverhill was eligible for a grant called the Mass Grad Grant and so I applied. We were awarded a $75,000 grant.