Folan informed the School Committee on May 9 that NEASC has delivered its 79-page document and in the next 10 days will send a list of recommendations the panel would like to see accomplished in the next year or two. Overall the report has 51 commendations and 51 recommendations.

A group of NEASC evaluators spent four days in October meeting with administrators, teachers, students and parents while examining every aspect of CHS, from its curriculum to its leadership and school culture.

Folan said students and staff did an “excellent job in presenting CHS to the NEASC committee and the NEASC panel said several times in the report there is intense pride in the high school from students, teachers, and the community itself.”

“They noticed a true commitment to the students shown by the teachers, the staff, and the community,” Folan said. “They feel there is great opportunity here for students, such as student exchange trips [and] the math team.”

“I think what you will see in the recommendations is the ability to go from a good situation to one in which we do great things,” added Folan. “We are doing a good job, but we need to do better.”

Among the recommendations are developing more models for consistency — especially in curriculum, course offerings and grading — and giving each student “rigorous challenges.”

The committee will post the report on the School Department website in the coming weeks and will invite Folan back to discuss the recommendations and plans for implementation.

Although not part of the NEASC report, School Superintendent Jeff Granatino noted that the 2012 CHS graduation rate of 96.8 percent was ranked by WCVB Channel 5 as the 19^th highest among 250 high schools in the state.

In other news, the district’s math and reading specialists gave a lengthy but enthusiastic report detailing their recent efforts to revamp instruction in the elementary schools as well as the Title I reading program in the Luce and Hansen schools.

The common denominator in both programs is the constant evaluation of students to determine proficiency levels and using data to chart a student’s progress.

Over a three-year period, the committee has spent nearly $450,000 to adopt and implement the “Journeys” English Language Arts curriculum.

According to the reading specialists’ report, “There is a consistent instruction and assessment program across all three elementary schools. Data is showing students are leaving kindergarten and grade 1 with much higher reading levels and students are sent to the middle schools with the same standards having learned at all three elementary schools. The reading specialists (Stacey Mann, Amanda Walsh, Erin Hagens, and reading tutors Donna Malliaros and Kerry Curley) are tracing progress in English Language Arts for every student in all elementary schools.”

Math specialists Susan Brass, Maryann Biedermann, and Kerri Falzone noted that the curriculum has been impacted by the state’s adoption of the Mathematics Common Core program, which demands a greater understanding of concept, procedure, and mastery at each grade level.

Initially, grades 1 and 2 have been most affected with a new emphasis on quantities, time, money and measurement. The group of math specialists is now rewriting curriculum and adding supplemental materials in grades 3-5. The specialists are working with middle school math advisor Nancy Dobbins and CHS math department coordinator Dr. Michael Curry to align math content for grades 1-12.

The math staff realized there was a misalignment of the prior program (Everyday Math) to the Common Core standards, and with the assistance of Curriculum Director Jen Henderson, they have identified “enVision Math” as the best option going forward. They plan to train first and second grade teachers in May with implementation for grades 3-5 coming in 2014-15.

Also on Thursday, Elaine McCarthy, social studies department coordinator at the Galvin Middle School, gave her last department update before her retirement and took the opportunity to emphasize the importance of citizenship and community engagement.

Although she said that conceptually in society, social studies has declined in importance, she believes it is still very important to all students. “I believe the goal of social studies is understanding freedom and democracy,” McCarthy said. “It is where you instill ideals and principles, respect for others, and develop a sense of community and learn how you measure values.”

“That’s why at the Galvin we have done things like having a Martin Luther King Assembly, Memorial Day, have speakers from our American Legion, have mock presidential candidate debates, Civil War reenactments, and try to be an active participant in the community,” she said.

Following McCarthy’s presentation, CHS social studies coordinator Pat Connor gave an update of the high school program, where the emphasis has been on the development of students’ argumentative and analytical skills. He also highlighted the department’s expanded course offerings, including the addition of philosophy and AP psychology. Connor said he will be working with Henderson to replace the world history textbook, which he believes is outdated, having been printed in 1999. Both are looking into the price of an online edition.

In other news:

* The School Department is asking parents of grade 6 and 9 students to submit residency recertification forms by June 10.

* Granatino highlighted two upcoming events at CHS: The STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) Expo on May 20 from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. and the district-wide art show May 20-23 from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

* The CHS Alumni Association recently donated $4,000 for a projector to be used in the school’s library.

* The committee has given permission for the CHS math team to travel to Penn State to participate in a national math competition.

* CHS student representative Ben Wiseman reported that more than 40 CHS seniors are participating in the Externship Program, using the last few weeks of the school year to work in a vocational field while earning academic credit.

CHS George King Track

Billed as a “no-frills” affair, the event will feature six one-mile heats, beginning with walkers at 3:35 p.m. and ending with competitive runners (sub six minutes) at 5 p.m. There will also be heats for milers who average 10-15 minutes, eight to 10 minutes, and six to eight minutes, as well as one open heat. The entry fee is a suggested donation of $5 per participant.

Organized by CHS seniors Joe Sabatino and Mike Rota under the guidance of CHS staff member and former track coach Chris Elgar, the event is both a fundraiser for the One Fund Boston and a symbolic nod to the thousands of marathoners who were unable to cross the finish line as a result of the bombings.

“The idea came from Mr. Elgar and it is centered around the idea that [many of] those who did not get to finish the marathon, like myself, only had a mile left until completion,” explained Sabatino, a four-year track team member who skipped his last spring season to train for the historic race.

Running as a “bandit,” or unregistered participant, Sabatino had made it all the way to the border of Brookline and Boston before he was stopped by police officers — just short of the 25^th mile marker. Cold and exhausted, he spent the next hour searching for his parents, Chris and Stephanie, who had been waiting at the finish line when the two bombs exploded.

Elgar, himself an avid runner, had also been on the marathon route that day, joining a former CHS student-athlete for the last 10 miles of his first-ever Boston Marathon. He had actually finished his run and was celebrating in an office building “quite near the finish line” when the bombs went off, unleashing a chaotic and bloody scene on the streets below.

“When the attacks occurred, we experienced the same rush to contact as many people as we could to confirm that we were safe and that others we knew that day who were there were also safe,” recalled Elgar. “Fortunately, everybody I know connected with the marathon on that day was safe, including Joe Sabatino and [CHS teacher] Sharon Bolduc.”

Elgar said the idea for the running event was inspired by the flood of concerned emails and voicemails he received in the days following the marathon, not only from the running community but from the Canton community at large.

“I couldn’t stop thinking that something needed to be done,” he said.

Elgar ultimately enlisted Rota and Sabatino as the event’s chief organizers, noting that they were the “obvious choices” due to their strong leadership skills and commitment to the cause.

“They have taken on the roles of student organizers and transformed an informal idea that ultimately became the ‘Last Mile’ to support the One Fund Boston,” Elgar said. “Mike and Joe are both avid distance runners who are respected fixtures on the CHS track teams. They have really made every effort to take an idea that was informal in nature and created an event that I think will be a success and done professionally while still being laid-back in format.”

Elgar said the phrase “last mile” was coined by a CHS student council member and he thought it would make the perfect name for a Boston Marathon fundraiser. It was also the name of a similar event held late last month at Clark University in Worcester.

Next week’s Last Mile race in Canton is not a school-sponsored event, although it does have the backing of various school leaders, including CHS Principal Derek Folan, Hansen Principal Peter Boucher, and CHS Athletic Director Danny Erickson.

Fittingly, the race will also take place on the same day that thousands of Canton Public School students and staff members wear “Boston Strong” t-shirts as a show of solidarity in honor of the marathon victims. The sale of the t-shirts was initiated by a group of CHS students and was later embraced by the entire district as an official fundraiser, ultimately netting between $25,000 and $30,000 for the One Fund, according to a recent update provided by Superintendent Jeff Granatino.

As for the upcoming Last Mile fundraiser, organizers are envisioning a “low-key” event without any of the trappings of a typical charity race, such as post-race awards or entertainment.

“The goal is to have a no-frills opportunity to donate $5 to walk, jog, or race a mile,” explained Elgar. “We don’t want any costs that will diminish the idea that $5 collected will be $5 sent directly to the One Fund.”

Asked about a fundraising goal, Sabatino said they do not have a specific number in mind, although “any and all donations are gratefully welcomed and much appreciated.”

“Everyone in the community is welcome and is encouraged to come to the event,” he said. “We want to get as many people and raise as much money as we possibly can.”

For more information on the Last Mile fundraiser, contact Sabatino at joesab2146@aol.com or Rota at mrota57@hotmail.com.

In recent years, Leon said there have been several hundred parents who wait until the summer or just before school reopens to inform school officials of their children’s bus plans, which places added pressure on the school department and the bus company to schedule bus stops at the last minute.

Bus fees are due by June 1 and the late fee will take effect after June 15. In addition to the late fee, Leon said there is no guarantee that a bus pass will be issued in time for the opening of school. He added that no new bus routes or stops will be created by late signups.

“The $50 late fee will certainly get people’s attention,” said committee member Robert Golledge.

In related news, parents will soon be able to pay all school fees by check or by debit or credit card through an online payment system similar to the one currently being used for school lunch accounts.

The committee authorized Leon to begin an arrangement with Heartland Payment Systems Inc. to extend the online system to athletic fees, bus fees, and extracurricular activity fees.

The charge for parents would be 25 cents per transaction and 4.25 percent for a credit card payment. The committee chose Heartland because of its past experience with the lunch program and because it would not charge any setup fees. Leon said another company, MCC Inc., wanted to charge the school department a first year setup fee of $4,000 to $5,000.

In addition to the discussion on fees, the School Committee also heard from Galvin Middle School Principal Dr. William Conard on new developments at the school, including the use of data teams to analyze student performance and growth.

Conard said the staff has used professional development opportunities to create writing exercises and then evaluate whether training on a particular exercise has been effective through data reporting and analysis.

Other programs highlighted by Conard include “Keys to Literacy” and its emphasis on proper note-taking; a new integrated guidance curriculum for grades 6-8, including plans for incoming sixth graders and graduating eighth graders; and an intervention room focusing on academics for students serving detentions and suspensions.

Conard also pointed out some of the curriculum topics that teachers have implemented this year, including probability and the “March Madness” college basketball tournament, environmental essays entitled “This I Believe,” and “DNA Superheroes.”

He also discussed many of the school’s music activities — including chorus, wind ensemble, and jazz band — as well as an inclusion program that enables all special needs students to be an active member of the Galvin school community.

In other news Thursday night:

* Early Childhood Director Kelty Kelley gave the committee a positive snapshot of the Rodman preschool program, which she said has grown considerably over the past few years. Kelley said the program now has 115 students and six classrooms, with several full-day and part-day options.

She noted that many of her staff members are serving on curriculum alignment teams, and the program is also getting ready for its upcoming “Trike-A-Thon” fundraiser for St. Jude’s Hospital.

* The Canton Little League informed the committee that it plans to replace the dugouts at the Hansen School field, beginning with the first base side. They will then replace the third base dugout following the repair of a retaining wall, which is part of the school capital plan up for consideration at the May 13 town meeting.

* The committee, acting on the advice of town counsel, agreed to restructure the School Building Study Committee, pending town meeting approval. The committee would consist of a representative from the School Committee and Board of Selectmen, the school superintendent or his designee, and four at-large members.

* Superintendent Jeff Granatino said he was impressed with the dialogue that took place in the classrooms following the events in Boston on Marathon Monday, particularly the impact of the bombings on victims and their families. Granatino said “Boston Strong” t-shirts will be sold sometime in May, with proceeds going to the victims.

* The committee will next meet on Thursday, May 9, at 7 p.m. in the CHS distance learning lab.

Voters at last year’s annual town meeting had appropriated $754,000 for the project, but the total cost skyrocketed to $2.3 million following the discovery of contaminants and asbestos in the windows at both schools in early March. The windows were first built in the mid 1960s.

School Superintendent Jeff Granatino said bids will go out in May — assuming the financing is approved at town meeting — and the goal is to begin construction at the end of the next school year, with an expected completion date of September 2014.

The reason for the delay is that school officials do not want construction done while school is in session. The contaminants do not pose a danger in their present dormant state.

Granatino said the application to the MSBA was buoyed by the fact that the town had its financing in place, thanks to the support of Finance Director Jim Murgia, the Finance Committee, and the Board of Selectmen. Granatino, School Business Manager Ken Leon, state Representative Bill Galvin, and a representative of state Senator Brian Joyce all attended the meeting at which the MSBA voted.

In other financial news, following a public hearing last week, the committee finalized its budget plan for next year and reaffirmed its submission of a $33.32 million operating budget, which represents an increase of $1.3 million, or 4.3 percent, compared to the current year’s budget. The committee will go into the May 13 town meeting with the support of the FinCom.

This would mark the second consecutive year that the school budget has seen an increase after experiencing a slight reduction of $112,000 in FY12. The new figure includes the current base budget of $32.01 million as well as funding for all new contract obligations for school employees and various program enhancements amounting to $455,668. The committee decided to set aside an additional $318,466 to cover potential increases in special education spending, which fluctuates from year to year depending on the number of out-of-district placements.

The enhancements include portions of a teaching position for social studies, world languages, performing arts, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) at Canton High School, and portions of an English language arts position and six team leaders at the Galvin Middle School.

At the elementary level there is new money for three educational assistants and three technology assistants at the JFK, Hansen, and Luce; a speech-language pathology assistant; two tutors at the Rodman Early Childhood Center; assistant principals at each of the elementary schools; and the restoration of one elementary school custodian cut during a previous budget year.

Granatino said additional items could be funded if the special education money is not needed next year, including a late bus at the Galvin, additional instructional supplies, expansion of world languages across all grades, more equitable funding for extracurricular programs, and enhancement of professional development offerings.

The committee will also submit a cash capital budget of $443,000, which includes $136,152 for building repairs and improvements; $16,000 for grounds improvement; $191,431 for technology needs; and $115,015 for textbooks and a new educator evaluation management system.

Areas addressed in both the capital and debt capital plans include bathroom partitions at the Luce; system-wide HVAC improvements; replacement of a hot water pump at the Galvin; retaining wall repairs at the Hansen; an art lab computer and Photoshop upgrade at CHS; security additions at the Rodman; cafeteria tables at the Luce; and structural engineering work on the bleachers at CHS.

In other news:

* The committee elected Cindy Thomas as its new chairman, replacing John Bonnanzio. Reuki Schutt was chosen as vice chair and Dave Emhardt was named secretary.

* The committee approved the district calendar for the 2013-14 school year. New teacher orientation will be August 21-22 followed by ninth grade orientation on August 26. The first day for teachers will be Tuesday, September 3, and the first day for students in grades 1-12 will be September 4. There will be no school on September 5 in observance of Rosh Hashanah. School will resume on September 6 and the first day for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students will be Monday, September 9. There will also be no school on September 11 due to a district-wide professional development day.

Bonnanzio said the committee and the Canton Teachers Association should consider starting school prior to Labor Day in future years. This year, because of the numerous weather-related cancellations, the last day of school will be Friday, June 28.

* The Hansen School will hold a ceremony on May 10 to dedicate its new auxiliary playground and new outdoor classroom.

* Committee members approved plans for the 12^th annual Luce 5k and Fun Run, which is scheduled for Sunday, May 5, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. They also authorized the Recreation Department to use the Kennedy School grounds from April 15-20 for its annual spring carnival.

* The School Committee will next meet on Thursday, April 25.

The top 15 schools in the medium school division were invited to participate, and Canton emerged as the champion after winning all six individual rounds as well as the team round for a final score of 86. Winchester was next with a score of 78, followed by Nashoba, Westborough and Belmont.

The six students who competed for Canton were seniors Sam Solomon and Matthew Waldman, juniors Daniel Bronstein, Emily Eastwood and Pranathi Ganni, and sophomore Andrew Moy. Waldman had the highest individual score on the team — finishing 10^th overall out of more than 250 competitors — followed closely by Eastwood and Solomon.

CHS math team advisors Marty Badoian, Jessica Duggan and Paul Dybdahl were all extremely proud of the students’ accomplishments. They also wanted to recognize the other members of the team for their diligence in preparing for the meet. They are seniors Craig Mills, Ian Mills and Jeffrey Yang; juniors Elizabeth Crespi, Amberly Diep, Saleem Elkadi, Daniel Guan and Felicia Lee; and sophomores Liam Collins, Yasmine Elkadi, Eddie Huang, Dan Klein, Damien Kozak and Dylan Winchell.

Canton will next host the prestigious NEAML New England Meet on Friday, April 26.

L-R: Renee Semple, Yasmine Kabbara and Meryl Prendergast

FPS teams work together to write a six-step booklet in two hours about a given topic. After competing at the Qualifying Bowl on February 2, four Canton FPS teams advanced to the State Bowl.

Three Canton students also attended the State Bowl as individuals. These courageous students, fourth grader Mary Kelley, fifth grader Sohil Apte, and 11^th grader Alicia Healey, wrote the FPS booklet by themselves. The evaluations for the individuals will be coming in the next few weeks.

The FPS topic at this year’s State Bowl was Ocean Soup, which describes the accumulation of plastic in the oceans. After participating in the two-hour team booklet competition, the kids were given an hour and a half to prepare a skit based on their action plan that addressed a solution to the Ocean Soup problem. Dressed in elaborate costumes made of tin foil, streamers, hula hoops, lamp shades and other props, the teams enthusiastically showcased their solutions. The eighth grade Canton Middle Division team, coached by Jen Prendergast, won first place for their unbelievable action plan skit. The members of the team are Yasmine Kabbara, Meryl Prendergast, and Renee Semple.

The 12^th grade Canton FPS team, coached by Renee Hanscom and consisting of Winnie Chen, Kyle Hanscom, Michaela Mellen, and Connor Shea, won first place for their marvelous skit in the Senior Division. Second place for the Senior Division skit went to the 11^th grade Canton team coached by Susan Crespi. The members of the team, Lizzie Crespi, Pranathi Ganni, Sage Lee, and Katie Thomas, were joined by the three Canton individual competitors in their skit.

L-R: Sage Lee, Pranathi Ganni and Lizzie Crespi

For the Senior Division booklet competition, the 12^th grade team of Dan Bronstein, Matt Derbin, Monica Johngiri, and Shawn Lynch won second place, while the 11^th grade Canton FPS team, coached by Sue Bronstein, placed first for their division and qualified for the International FPS Competition at Indiana University this June.

Community Problem Solving (CmPS), another program associated with FPS, encourages students to proactively use the six-step process to improve their community. Alicia Healey, competing as an individual under the guidance of coach Melissa Healey, won first place for her project Mission Pet Safe and will be going to the International Competition. Team F.O.U.R.K. (Focusing on the Unique Renewal of Kreativity), coached by Susan Crespi and consisting of Lizzie Crespi, Pranathi Ganni, and Sage Lee, won first place for team CmPS Senior Division. They will also be attending internationals for their project, which hopes to increase the sustainability of the FPS program in Canton so that students will be able to improve their critical thinking skills.

Congratulations to all Canton FPS participants. They should all be extremely proud of themselves for their achievements. Thank you to all parents and coaches who have dedicated their time and effort to this worthwhile program. Special thanks to co-coordinators Sue Bronstein and Susan Crespi for all their hard work. We also would like to thank Marilyn Harris for her continued support of the program. Good luck to those competing at internationals!

Submitted by Lizzie Crespi, Pranathi Ganni and Sage Lee

Town officials convened on Tuesday to discuss the Plymouth Rubber site. (CCTV photo)

The developer of the 40-acre Plymouth Rubber property on Revere Street is willing to spend up to $7 million on environmental cleanup and infrastructure improvements at the former industrial site in exchange for the right to build 348 homes — a project that will impact nearly all town departments, according to the findings of a recently completed independent study.

The study, prepared by attorney Mark Bobrowski and his team of real estate and financial experts, was outlined as part of a super board meeting on Tuesday night. Held at the library before an audience of approximately 50 residents, the meeting included the Board of Selectmen and representatives from the Planning Board, School Committee, Conservation Commission, Finance Committee, and Council on Aging.

Selectmen Chairman Bob Burr said it may have been one of the more important meetings of the year, and he hopes to call a few more of these informational sessions before the town decides whether to recommend the project for rezoning at a future special town meeting — not at the upcoming May town meeting as originally planned.

Based on the information presented Tuesday night, the project is expected to have implications for nearly all town departments as well as the town’s housing inventory. Bobrowski and his team analyzed the amount of environmental cleanup that is necessary, as well as traffic and drainage issues and potential school and municipal service impacts.

The following are some of the highlights presented at the meeting by Bobrowski and his team as well as Bernard Plante, project manager for Canton Holdings LLC, a subsidiary of the Napleton Company:

* The developer has reduced the density of the project from a high of 650 units in 2007 to their current proposal of 348, which includes 64 two-bedroom townhouses (for-sale) in 15 buildings; 204 one- and two-bedroom apartments in six buildings; and 80 age-restricted units (for sale or rent) in two buildings.

* Canton Holdings has committed to restricting 51 of the 204 apartments to households qualifying as affordable income. If the owners and the town agree to a pact under Chapter 40R, it could net the town a one-time payment of $962,000.

* The project will not be a guaranteed cash windfall for the town. The proposal will generate as much as $891,000 in property taxes but create additional costs for the fire and police departments as well as for the schools. Judi Barrett of Bobrowski’s team said between 48 and 64 new children can be expected to enroll in the Canton Public Schools. She said if the number of school children is at the low end, the project will have a net positive fiscal effect, but if the number is at the high end, the fiscal impact would fall “slightly in the negative.”

* Barrett estimated that the project will generate 150 short-term and 178 long-term jobs and result in an estimated $10 million spent on goods and services from Canton businesses.

* The project is expected to impact traffic at the intersection of Chapman, Spaulding and Everett streets, probably necessitating a new traffic signal. Selectman Victor Del Vecchio said the project will also have an impact at Washington and Chapman streets, and Planning Board member George Jenkins wondered about the project’s impact to the Revere Street railroad bridge and the future impact to the expanded commuter rail service to Taunton.

* Canton Holdings has committed to saving the historic Revere Barn and Rolling Mill while also building many walking trails for use by the public. The company is only interested in residential use and has rejected plans for industrial, office space, or retail use.

* Commenting on the financial feasibility of the project, Mike Jacobs of Bobrowski’s team said any redevelopment of the site must include an apartment component because it is the easiest to construct and finance in today’s real estate market. He was also positive about the townhouse component. However, the age-restricted component, he said, is not currently feasible but could be “viable in tomorrow’s economy.”

He concluded that the 348 proposal represents a “reasonable amount of density for the site given the standards governing economic return on the investment.”

* The one unclear aspect of the project is a 48-unit assisted living structure to be built on the grounds of the former Plymouth Rubber parking lot. Planning Board Chairman Chris Connolly said the project has stalled because the applicant has not found an operator for the site. However, several town officials questioned the traffic and population density impact to the surrounding area.

A view inside the former Plymouth Rubber factory

Bonnanzio is part of a town advisory committee that has been working with the developer on their latest plans for the historic property, which was once the site of Paul Revere’s copper rolling mill. A team of independent experts led by zoning attorney Mark Bobrowski has studied the proposal, and on March 20 they presented their initial findings to the advisory committee, which includes Bonnanzio, Selectmen Chairman Bob Burr, Planning Board Chairman Chris Connolly, Town Administrator Bill Friel, and Building Commissioner Ed Walsh.

Members of the School Committee, Planning Board, and Board of Selectmen will next meet to discuss the full report on Tuesday, April 9, at 6 p.m. in the library. Eventually, a special town meeting will be scheduled to vote on the project.

Bonnanzio said the current proposal calls for 348 townhouse-style units, including 204 multifamily units, and the developers estimate that 48-65 children will be added to the system as a result of the project.

Bonnanzio noted that the soon-to-be-built Avalon apartment project on Randolph Street will add 22-34 new students into the system, meaning that the two projects combined could add between 60 and 100 new students.

The developers have indicated that the Plymouth Rubber property will generate $122,000 to $173,000 in net revenue for the town, but Bonnanzio said in his opinion the expenses — for education and other town services — are much greater than what the developers are projecting. “I will believe it when I see it,” he said.

Bonnanzio tabulated the educational expenses of the five largest multifamily projects in Canton and estimated the total educational cost to be $2 million more than the tax revenue generated by the properties.

“I think the math in this report is suspect,” he said, referring to the Napleton proposal.

Bonnanzio also reported that the developers are holding firm to the proposed number of units because of the costs associated with cleaning up the former industrial site. He added that the project is 100 percent residential, with no current plans to add a retail or commercial component.

Related to school building and future enrollment, the School Committee approved a town meeting article proposing the creation of a school building study committee to assess the existing school building facilities and determine whether they will be efficient in future years based on enrollment trends and population growth.

The committee would consist of seven members, including representatives from the Board of Selectmen, FinCom, Capital Planning Committee, a designee from the school department, and two at-large representatives to be appointed by the town moderator.

In other news:

* The committee firmed up its spending plan for the next budget year. The committee will have $774,134 in new money, and after several meetings of deliberation they decided to set aside $455,688 for program and staff enhancements and $318,466 to offset future special education expenses. School business manager Ken Leon said the special education budget had a deficit of $417,325 as of January 31 based on unanticipated transportation and out-of-district tuition costs. The deficit will be paid this year with reimbursements from the state circuit breaker program and from savings in other school accounts. Some of the proposed enhancements were put on hold and will be revisited next year, including the addition of a .4 wellness teacher position, new social studies and French textbooks at the middle school, and $2,000 in supplies.

* The committee enthusiastically supported the idea of Student Services Director Debra Bromfield to establish a fundraiser to purchase three pieces of playground equipment — estimated to cost between $2,000 and $5,000 — for the Rodman Early Childhood Center playground located next to the CHS tennis courts. In addition, Bromfield, supported by a dozen early childhood teachers who attended the meeting, proposed naming the playground in honor of Susan Lipton, who worked in all of the district buildings for over 27 years and aided the development of many children. The committee, which is in support of the dedication, delayed the formal vote until its next meeting while it awaits public input.

* The committee has been informed that the Cabot Fund, a trust established by Dr. Arthur Tracy Cabot to benefit outdoor youth activities in Canton, has grown in income. Last year the committee approved $13,545 in disbursements to various organizations, and this year the disbursements will amount to $15,545. The committee announced that all organizations that applied last year will receive last year’s amount. The committee anticipates receiving four new applications and will split the remaining $2,000 equally between them. The committee suggested that the Rodman Early Childhood Playground Committee apply for a disbursement this year.

* Martha Lawless, Canton Public Schools’ food services director, gave an update on the progress of the new CHS breakfast program and reported consistent sales since its opening on February 1, as well as a bump in sales during the recent MCAS testing period. The next addition to the program is a “grab-and-go” service where students can purchase items to eat or drink in studies or in the hallways during passing times. Lawless said she has also applied for grants to purchase food service equipment to possibly expand the breakfast program to other schools. In addition, she recently put together a committee of Kennedy School parents and staff to communicate tips to students on how to make healthier food choices, with an emphasis on choosing fruits and vegetables.

* The committee supported the suggestion of member Dave Emhardt to post information about user fees on the school website, including what purpose they serve and when parents can expect to pay them. Emhardt said he was approached by some parents who were not informed that they had to pay a school play fee until three days before the performance.

* Prior to Thursday’s School Committee meeting, the zoning board met and approved the expansion of the Hansen School playground project.

* Bonnanzio, who was recently reelected to a one-year term, announced that he would step down as chairman at the committee’s next meeting on April 11. He praised the work of the two newest members, Emhardt and Robert Golledge, who were both elected to three-year terms in Tuesday’s annual town election.

Canton High School students and Canton administrators welcome Secretary Matt Malone. (Dan Guan photo)

School Superintendent Jeff Granatino reported a very successful day for the Canton Public Schools as Secretary of Education Matt Malone spent a good part of the morning on Wednesday, March 27, visiting with students and staff of Canton High School, the Rodman administration building, and the Galvin Middle School.

Granatino said Malone was very impressed with some of Canton’s special programs in robotics, early childhood development, and programs for at-risk students. “The state is very interested in promoting these kinds of programs and very much liked what we are doing,” Granatino said.

Several town officials gathered to greet Malone at a reception at the Galvin Middle School, and Malone was impressed with the display of unity, telling Granatino that it was rare to see a fire and police chief at an education event.

“It was an amazing day for Secretary Malone, starting with the greeting of the students holding signs for him at Canton High,” said Granatino. “He agreed with me that Canton is a special place, and he liked what he saw in our classrooms. I have his number on my cell phone.”

Malone was welcomed by students at CHS, then met with school administrators in the principal’s conference room. He fielded comments and concerns from Canton officials and talked with students in the Robotics Club, who demonstrated a working robot.

Malone also toured the Rodman building, home to the Early Education Center and its 113 preschool students. From there, he went to the middle school, where he was treated to a performance by the GMS chorus and also saw food prepared and served by students from the life skills program.

A reception was held in the GMS library and was attended by approximately 60 people, including state Representative William Galvin, School Committee members John Bonnanzio, Cindy Thomas and Robert Golledge, Selectman Avril Elkort, Finance Committee Chairman Mark Porter, Planning Board member Kristin Mirliani, Police Chief Ken Berkowitz, and Fire Chief Charlie Doody.

The boys let loose on the dance floor (Moira Sweetland photo)

Dancing, games, camaraderie and fun! This was the theme at the first ever Hansen School Mother/Son ShamRock dance, which took place at the Hansen on Friday evening, March 15. Geared toward all K-5 students in Canton, the event doubled as a fundraiser for the Hansen community and attracted a sold-out crowd.

“We even had to turn people away prior to the event,” said dance co-chair Karrie Hylen. “We had 25 couples waitlisted, which is fantastic feedback for our first year hosting this event.”

The dance was the brainchild of Hansen parents Julie Beckham, Sharon Stemm and Hylen, who identified the need for an event similar to the popular Father/Daughter dance sponsored by St. John’s School.

“I watched my daughter go off to the Father/Daughter dance with her dad and thought, ‘I want to go out on a date with my son,’” said Beckham. “The Hansen is on a roll with successful fundraisers, and we were excited to host a town-wide event such as this and we hope this is the beginning of a new tradition in town.”

The dance was an all-inclusive event, featuring raffles and refreshments, as the co-chairs wanted moms and sons to simply come and enjoy their night. Raffle prizes included morning and afternoon announcements with Principal Peter Boucher, remote-control cars, a tent with supplies, public skating coupons, Wii games, a hand-painted flower pot certificate by Melissa Madden, and an Elizabeth Grady gift card, just to name a few. There were also dozens of free prizes given throughout the night — one lucky mom won a manicure gift certificate from Canton Nails for her moves on the dance floor. Others won Red Sox posters, soccer balls, shamrock t-shirts, and other neat prizes.

DJ Caroline Titus kept the music going all night long with a fabulous selection, including recent Hansen Flashback songs. The dance floor was packed all night with dancers of all ages, from kindergarteners to grandmothers. Boys also stopped at the Hansen tattoo station for shamrock tattoos and other activities, including Momma Mad Libs, guess how many Legos, and a basketball toss.

Slices of pizza from Apollo Pizza were available along with water and a decadent dessert table orchestrated by Janice Troy and Moira Sweetland. The evening winded down with Hansen kindergartener Ben Stark winning Celtics tickets.

The highlight of the night was Principal Boucher speaking to the guests, telling the boys about the importance of respect and appreciating their mothers. Then he asked all the boys to grab their moms for the last dance.

The Hansen CAPT would like to give special thanks to the volunteers, including Joan D’Alto, Amy Delello, Kevin Sheridan, and Hansen alumni Mattie Sutton.

The ShamRock committee co-chairs are thrilled about the turnout and success, and plans for next year are already being discussed. There is even talk of moving to a larger venue and turning this town-wide event into one of the Hansen’s largest fundraisers and making it a Canton tradition for years to come.