Greetings,

We know that it is a busy time of year, but there are many important happenings in town that affect our schools and our children.

Caroline Sabin to Chair CNS

Citizens for Needham Schools extends a huge thank you to Amy Goldman. Amy is stepping down as Chairperson, but will continue to work with the organization she helped found in 2003 and has led since that time. Throughout her tenure as Chairperson Amy has been committed to informing parents and citizens about town government and the needs of the schools, and to securing proper funding for school and town needs.

CNS is fortunate to have a dynamic, intelligent and dedicated schools advocate as its new chairperson. Caroline Sabin has agreed to take on the leadership of CNS as it expands upon its mission to support the School Committee and the School Administration in their efforts to provide Needham's children with a high quality education.

Caroline is currently PTC president of the Eliot School and a member of the NEF board. As a CNS committee member, Caroline has helped to recruit new volunteers, provided valuable input in strategy sessions and assisted in preparing many of our informational materials. A former teacher, and a mother of a 2nd grader and a preschooler, Caroline has a strong understanding of what makes a school system successful and what is required to maintain high performing public schools in challenging economic times.

	Selectmen to Discuss Debt Limit Policy - Tuesday, May 23
g this Tuesday at 7:40 p.m. in the Selectmen's meeting room at Town Hall. The presentation will be followed by a Selectmen's discussion. All of the projects being considered to relieve the overcrowding at Pollard and to support our growing school population would require debt exclusion overrides. This also applies to the other municipal facility projects being considered. The Town's debt policy is one of the key factors determining the Selectmen's willingness to support - and therefore citizens' opportunity to vote on - these construction projects. Although this is not a public hearing at which citizens can provide input, your presence at the meeting will communicate the importance of constructing the needed facilities while providing the opportunity to learn more about this important topic. Selectmen's meetings are broadcast live on The Needham Channel - Comcast Channel 10, RCN Channel 13. In addition, they are taped for rebroadcast.

	Townwide Facilities Study Public Hearing -Tuesday, May 30
The Townwide Facilities Study Committee will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, May 30, 7 p.m. in the Pollard auditorium. The committee will report on its progress to-date, and it will present the proposals for matching the town's programming needs with available sites. The public will be invited to ask questions and make comments. For parents concerned about middle school and elementary school overcrowding, this hearing is an opportunity to understand the space needs of the town as a whole, and how these needs will impact decisions made about school construction projects. It is also an opportunity to share your thoughts, concerns and suggestions with the Facilities Study Committee. This hearing will be televised live on local cable TV and taped for rebroadcast.

	Save the Science Center Campaign Update
The Save the Science Center campaign volunteers have been working tirelessly to raise the $211,521 needed to keep the Science Center open in the coming school year. As of Friday, May 19, $101,000 had been raised. May 31 is the deadline for raising the balance. Please go to the campaign website to learn more. Visit the Science Center Campaign site »

	Field Study Committee Public Discussion TONIGHT
The Field Study Committee invites you to a public discussion regarding their proposals for upgrades to the Memorial Park and DeFazio playing fields tonight (Monday, May 22), 7 p.m. at the Broadmeadow Performance Center. These two parks are the location of the majority of sports activity for Needham High School students. They are also important assets for the community youth sports programs. The Field Study Committee and Gale Associates will present the DRAFT schematic designs for both parks that try to address the inefficient athletic field layouts, and incorporates synthetic turf fields at both parks. Lighting of some athletic fields is also under consideration.