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October 23, 2010 PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 62 Portland, ME The Cape Cour erECRWSS Volume 23 Number 15 An Independent Not-for-Profi t Newspaper Oct. 23 - Nov. 5, 2010 Serving Cape Elizabeth Since 1988 capecourier.com School Board approves Ken Murphy School Board as interim superintendent candidate Kim Monaghan-Derrig is running for one By Wendy Keeler at the University of Southern Maine nearly of two three-year terms on the School Board. Spend 10 minutes talking to Cape’s in- every semester for 15 years. “I tell them that Monaghan-Derrig received three questions coming interim superintendent, Dr. Kenneth it was my relationships with teachers, school from The Cape Courier, with a 500-word Murphy, and it becomes obvious. Murphy, committee members, my leadership team, limit for the three answers. who served as Yarmouth superintendent for and parents. Schools are like families; it’s Other residents have stated their intentions 18 years and will take the helm Jan. 1 when the strength of the relationships that makes to run as write-in candidates for the second Superintendent Alan Hawkins steps down, them healthy.” School Board seat [see story below]. has a passion not only for education but also When Murphy stepped down from his job Kimberly J. Monaghan-Derrig for people. in Yarmouth in June 2009, he still “loved” 1. What issues motivate you as a can- No matter where conversation goes, being superintendent. didate, and how will you address these is- somehow Murphy steers it back to the other “I didn’t leave because I was burned out. Ken Murphy sues if you are elected? person. So it’s no surprise when Murphy puts I loved the job and everything about it be- Every child should have an equal op- relationships at the top of the list of his suc- cause Yarmouth was a great place to be su- second child. The following May, Murphy’s portunity to succeed in education. We must cesses in Yarmouth during an Oct. 14 phone perintendent of schools.” wife, Lois, a guidance counselor beloved in continue to work towards building a strong, interview. Murphy had recently experienced two Falmouth where she worked for 23 years, smart and sustain- “Students in my classes at USM often ask, major family losses. His son-in-law, Jason died after a 16-month battle with cancer. able approach to ‘What’s your most important accomplish- McNelis, died in a car accident in July 2007 “I needed a change. Losing my wife educational growth ment?’” said Murphy, 60, who has taught when Murphy’s daughter McKenzie was was the biggest challenge of my life and I and development. a graduate class in educational leadership three months pregnant with the couple’s —see KEN MURPHY, page 22 In Maine, and defi nitely in Cape schools, the num- Fort Williams Master Plan update to include business plan ber one word to defi ne the future By Bob Dodd eral fund to the Fort Williams Capital Fund. chance to comment at the workshop. of learning will be The Town Council has authorized funds The Fort Williams Master Plan was last The council’s action regarding the Fort innovation. Inno- to update the Fort Williams Park Master updated in 2003 at a cost of $35,000. The Williams Park master and business plans vative K-12 learn- Kim Monaghan-Derrig Plan. A business plan will also be included update will address issues “related to pos- comes on the heels of residents’ rejection ing programs in to scope out possible revenue-generating sible business sites within the park, includ- of parking fees at the much-visited park in a STEAM (science, math, engineering, ARTS projects at the park. ing parking, sewerage disposal, shoreland referendum held in June. and math) will provide the tools needed for The action was taken at the Oct. 13 meet- zoning impacts, and access to the areas by “The business plan,” said Councilor Jim students today to compete with the global ing of the council. suppliers,” according to the town website. Walsh, “has been one of the discussions with work force of tomorrow. Innovative learning Councilors voted unanimously to spend The idea of adding a business plan came the Fort Williams Commission about how will also offer multiple paths to excellence $25,000 for the master plan update plus an out of an Oct. 4 workshop. The joint work- do we implement [revenue-producing pro- (for teachers and students) that recognize in- additional $15,000 for the business plan. shop included Town Council members and jects], what is the cost-benefi t analysis and is dividual learning differences. They passed a total authorization of $40,000. members of the Fort Williams Advisory it something we ought to be doing.” The hiring of a new school superintendent A consultant will be hired to produce the two Commission and the Fort Williams Chari- Some councilors wanted to know more will be an important issue in the next year. I plans. table Foundation. believe my professional and educational ex- The action moves the funds from the gen- Members of the public were also given a —see TOWN COUNCIL, page 22 perience in the public and private sector will assist in the search process. The state has yet to meet the commitment to pay 55 percent of the total Essential Programs Four-time Western Maine champs! Heavy write-in voting and Services (EPS) costs of K-12 schools adopted by Maine voters in the 2004 refer- likely this election endum. I will work with other school board By Elizabeth Brogan members to encourage legislators to move Write-in candidates are nothing new in closer to reaching the EPS commitment. Cape Elizabeth municipal politics, but Town I will work responsibly in maintaining a Clerk Debra Lane anticipates that the Nov. 2 strong and sustainable school budget. election will produce a bumper crop of hand- 2. Increasingly, families of Cape Eliza- written votes for candidates not listed on the beth school children are being asked to ballot. pay fees, including fees for students’ sports While four candidates, Frank Governali, participation and student parking at the Caitlin Jordan, John McGinty and James high school. What is your stance on this? Wagner, are vying for two seats on the Town I would support student parking fees at Council, the School Board slate consists the high school over other fees. of just one certifi ed candidate, Kimberly J. Certainly, shrinking resources were the Monaghan-Derrig, for two open seats. The primary motive behind Cape’s decision to re- municipal ballot will allow for up to two sort to pay-to-play fees in athletic programs. votes for write-in candidates in both of those I do believe the current fees are an economic races. The ballot will also allow one write-in burden on many families, especially those vote for a seat on the Portland Water District with two or three young athletes participating Board of Trustees. Only one candidate, John or who are in the middle-to-lower-income Brady of South Portland, is on the ballot for bracket. Waivers and scholarship requests that seat. continue to increase; parents’ volunteering Although the municipal ballot states, and booster groups are tapped out. I’m not Photo by Angela Best next to both the Town Council and School sure it is realistic to reverse the current fees; it is likely middle school sports would be cut Gathering in Durham, N.H., on Sept. 17 are members of Cape Elizabeth High School girls’ Board slate, “vote for two,” Lane would like to make clear that voters may vote for fewer if there were no pay-to-play. Perhaps in a cross-country team, who won their fourth straight Western Maine Conference Division I few years, when the economy has improved, title on Thursday, Oct. 7, in Falmouth. The team will compete at the Class B Western Maine than two candidates, just not more than the allowable number of votes. Cape could revisit (and reverse) the issue of Regional Championship Saturday, Oct. 23, at Twin Brook in Cumberland and in the state pay-to-play. In the meantime, I would not championship meet on Saturday, Oct. 30, in Belfast. —see WRITE-IN, page 5 —see CANDIDATE, page 22 Page 2 • The Cape Courier LETTERS Oct. 23 - Nov. 5, 2010 The Cape Courier Sturtevant is ‘dedicated,’ Moore ‘goes well beyond Lusk offers needed P.O. Box 6242 joins School Board fi eld what is expected’ fi nancial background Cape Elizabeth Maine 04107 207-767-5023 capecourier.com I am writing this letter to endorse write-in Having read Michael Moore’s letter in the Cape Elizabeth is unique in Maine. We’re candidate Frederic Sturtevant for the Cape last issue of The Cape Courier about his de- regarded as one of the state’s wealthiest Elizabeth School Board. Fred has been a cision to run as a write-in candidate for the towns, and we’re fi rst in line to lose state OUR MISSION STATEMENT The mission of The Cape Courier is to foster resident of Cape Elizabeth for more than 20 Cape Elizabeth School Board, I wanted to funds if there’s a budget shortfall. So despite a sense of community by presenting news years, is the parent of a middle school stu- applaud his decision to step in to fi ll a va- the sales and income taxes we send Augusta, specifi c and unique to Cape Elizabeth and its dent, and currently serves as a member of cancy which no one else had offered to fi ll.
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