In response to the Haddam-Killingworth Middle School's placement on the federal No Child Left Behind List, School's Superintendent Gary Mala offers a detailed explanation of how the law is applied to schools and his assessment of the school's progress.

"I am concerned about Haddam-Killingworth Middle School being identified and placed on the list of schools in Connecticut not meeting the adequate yearly progress interval as determined by the federal and state departments of education. The designation of not meeting AYP is not for the entire school rather it is confined to a subgroup of students identified as those receiving special education services. This is a fact which is sometimes overlooked and people then generalize that the
entire school did not make AYP.

This designation has brought to the forefront one of the many fundamental flaws I have noted in the No Child Left Behind legislation since its enactment in 2002. It is simply not fair to subject students who have unique, specialized learning needs to the same form of standardized assessment that their non-disabled peers participate in annually. We provide "special education" services to assist disabled
learners achieve their full potential but should be given some flexibility in using an appropriate assessment measure to document their progress toward the identified standard of performance. The law as it is written and has been implemented has eliminated the use of exemptions from assessment except in the most severe cases. This is what happens when we are provided no flexibility and all children are required to be assessed the same way. Just as we must meet the individual learning
needs of all children using a variety of methods (which we call "special
education"), so must we be able to assess their progress using a variety of methods.

I am an advocate and supporter of standardized assessment but remain skeptical that 100% of all children in all school districts in our state and country will be able to achieve at a predetermined standard (that changes each year) by the year 2014. In some cases, this will happen and in others it is simply not realistic.

In light of this information, it is our intent to revise the comprehensive Connecticut Mastery Test Action Plan prepared and implemented by the middle school administration to ensure that all of our students are adequately prepared to achieve at the levels set forth by the U.S Department of Education and the Connecticut State Department of Education. There simply is no margin for error when it comes to the
education of all of our children.

Having one of schools identified as not meeting adequate yearly progress is not and should not be construed as all children at the middle school are failing to achieve at national and state standards, rather we have a subgroup of students who have not achieved the identified standard at this point in time."

The list of 290 Connecticut schools that have been identified as failing to meet federal No Child Left Behind standards, includes Region 17's Haddam-Killingworth Middle School. The State Department of Education reported approximately 3 out of 5 Connecticut students in Grades 3-8 met the state goal in reading, writing and mathematics, according to Connecticut Mastery Test results.

Dr. Betty J. Sternberg, Commissioner of Education said, "We continue to remain concerned about the persistent gaps in student achievement, and we have several initiatives in place to address them that we are going to move forward with." According the New Haven Register, the schools listed failed to make adequate progress based on the spring 2006 Connecticut Mastery Test results. Any school that fails in two consecutive years in the same category is placed on the federal list of schools in need of improvement. Of the 290 schools that failed, 121 schools had already been on the list, and the vast majority of those, 97, are located in high poverty school districts.

No Child Left Behind sets two basic standards: the school must meet required scores as a whole school and no group of 40 or more students that belong to any particular race or income level, or language background, can be permitted to score below the required scores. Click to view 2006 CMT report (PDF) and District statistics

CT Outdoors host Suzanne Thompson with author and naturalist John Himmelman on the WLIS/WMRD weekly radio program CT Outdoors. Catch the rebroadcast of Tuesday's program TODAY at 1:00 p.m. on WMRD 1150 AM, Middletown and WLIS 1420 AM, Old Saybrook. photo courtesy S. Thompson

First Selectman Martin Klein reported yesterday that Moody's Investment Service assigned the Town of Killingworth a rating of "A1" at Tuesday's $3,295,000 bond issue. The bonds will be used to finance the acquisition of the 143-acre Wettish property on Parker Hill Road Extension as well as pay off the short term notes used to purchase the 133-acre Bosco property on Route 81 and finance the Town Hall Office expansion project approved in 2000.

Klein said "This rating is due, in large part, to Killingworth's long history of employing prudent fiscal practices as well as the cooperative work of our combined boards and commissions."

According to Klein, the bonds were sold in a competitive bid at sealed auction and were awarded to Roosevelt & Cross at a True Interest Cost (TIC) of 4.0475%. Klein said, "The current market conditions along with the strong rating from Moody's resulted in a significant reduction in earlier debt service projections." John McMahon, Chairman of the Board of Finance said, "I am especially pleased with the low interest rate - this will help to relieve some of the upward pressure on the mill rate. "

Klein said, "We are very pleased with the results and our commissions are already hard at work making plans for new multi-purpose recreational fields on the Wettish property." The Town recently received permission from the State Office of Policy Management to transfer $500,000 in grant money originally intended for a town center to the Park & Recreation for proposed recreation fields. "While the Town hasn't abandoned the idea of creating a town center, the need for additional fields was pressing and this is a terrific piece of property - the opportunity was too good to pass up."

The Park & Recreation Commission is currently working on a detailed plan for the recreation project. The preliminary plan includes three small and two full-sized soccer/multi-purpose fields at a cost of $700,000.

Travel to beautiful Northern Massachusetts on September 30 for a look at the "colors" of Fall. The first stop will be at the Magic Wings Butterfly & Garden. Here you can wind your way through warm and beautiful indoor gardens filled with the color and scent of nectar flowers. Stretch out your hand and a butterfly may alight delicately on your fingers with a flash of its brilliantly colored wings. You can also take some time to browse through the art gallery featuring local artists' works or spend some time in the gift shop.

Lunch is included at Chandler's. Located on the grounds of the famous Yankee Candle Company, you will have time after lunch to browse through the store. Enjoy a self-guided tour of their candle production and visit their candle-making museum. If you wish you may dip candles or make your own jar candle, on your own. Visit room after room of beautifully scented candles.

The $64 per person fee includes Deluxe Motorcoach Transportation, Magic Wings and complete luncheon. The bus departs KES 7:30 am and HK HS 7:45 am; Returns: approximately 6:30 pm; Limit: max. 46. Please call HK Recreation at 345-8334 to register.

The Killingworth Library Association is seeking new members for its volunteer ranks. We get busier every day and there are empty shifts at the circulation desk we'd love to fill with some interested new faces. The minimum commitment is three-and-a-half hours a week which comprises either a morning or an afternoon shift. (Morning shift 10:00 A.M. to1:15 P.M., afternoon shift 1:15 P.M. to 4:30 P.M.) We are ready and able to provide on-the- spot training as soon as commitments are made.

Typical duties for the circulation desk volunteer include a variety of procedures. The more obvious are checking items in and out, placing items on reserve, and adding and updating patrons using the Athena computer system. Also included are shelving items properly within the collection, assisting patrons with the card catalog, and helping patrons use the copier.

For a total listing of the circulation desk's responsibilities, please take one of the packets located in our lobby on the right-hand bulletin board. The packet consists of a thorough circulation desk job description and an application for volunteer service. The completed application may be mailed to the library at P.O. Box 725, Killingworth, Ct. 06419, or given to a library staff member.

In many ways, The Killingworth Library is our town center. Be a part of the team that keeps it running smoothly. The rewards, as they say, are PRICELESS!

Legal Notice
Town of Killingworth
Notice of Special Town Meeting
The Electors of the Town of Killingworth and all those qualified to vote in meetings of said Town are hereby notified and warned that a Special Town Meeting will be held in the All Purpose Room of the Killingworth Elementary School on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. to consider and act upon the following items of business:

1. To approve and accept the annual report of the Board of Finance for fiscal year 2004-2005.

2. To approve that the Town hereby accepts, as recommended by the Board of Selectmen and the Planning and Zoning Commission, the conveyance of certain property from Gary Ballard for Willowbrook Properties for the purpose of reconfiguration of the intersection of Green Hill Road and Route 81, said property being described as follows:

All certain piece or parcel of land between Green Hill Road and Connecticut Route 81 in the Town of Killingworth, County of Middlesex, and the State of Connecticut and shown as "Land of Gary Ballard Nominee to be conveyed to the Town of Killingworth 0.16 Acres (7,177 Sq. Ft.)" on a certain map entitled "Right of Way Survey Property of Gary Ballard, Nominee to be conveyed to the Town of Killingworth Green Hill Road & Route 81 Killingworth, Connecticut Date: Mar 2006 Land Survey and Technical Services Inc. Chester, Connecticut" said map being or to be recorded in the land records of said Town of Killingworth, said parcel being more particularly described [in documents available in the Town Clerk's Office].

The Killingworth Women's Organization and the Chamber of Commerce have delivered almost all of the original 50 Welcome Baskets, which included great goodies from Chamber members and information from local civic organizations and town services for new residents of town. The recipients greatly appreciated the Baskets, as well as all of the businesses that donated goods and services. What a great way to welcome new Killingworth residents and get your organization's information to them!

Now that the basket supply is almost depleted, it is time once again to make your donations to fill new baskets. Please send 50 items of value (not just an advertisement) to Lynn D'Amico, 14 Rachel's Court, Killingworth, 663-5471 by September 10 or drop off your items at the KWO table at the Town Picnic. Businesses must also include a check for $10 payable to the Chamber to cover the cost of the baskets; civic and town organizations are exempt from the $10 fee.

The baskets will be filled and wrapped after the KWO's meeting on September 13 at 7:15 p.m. at the Library. Anyone wishing to help organize the baskets is welcome!

Connecticut Light and Power reported that 522 Killingworth customers were without power Sunday morning from about 8:30 a.m. to noon due to the storm that rolled through.

The brief storm caused a tree to come down on power lines on Route 81. In addition, there was a possible lightening strike to CL&P equipment.

Brownie Troop 2818 sold lemonade at Rocco Reale Field on Saturday while collecting vegetables from residents' gardens. The troop received produce and monetary donations from several residents and sold $50.00 worth of lemonade to thirsty residents headed through the transfer station. The Brownies' Giving Garden bounty will be donated to three area food pantries and shelters.

The HK Travel Basketball League will be holding tryouts for their 2006-07 season on:

Monday, September 11, 2006 for boys at the HK Fieldhouse 7 PM – 9 PM
Tuesday, September 12, 2006 for girls at the HK Fieldhouse from 7 PM – 9 PM

Boys and girls entering grades 4-8 in the 2006-07 school year are eligible to play (4th graders must be 9 years old by 09/01/06 and 8th graders must be 13 years old by 09/01/06).

If your child is interested in playing and/or you are interested in coaching, or if you have any questions or concerns, please send an e-mail to HKTravelbball06@comcast.net.

8.18.2006: Eva Czimbor, 35, of Deep River was traveling westbound on Route 80 at 6:15 a.m. when she lost control of her vehicle after making an evasive maneuver. Her 2002 Honda Civic flipped over and came to a rest on the property of 497 Route 80. Czimbor said a jeep traveling eastbound cut over into the westbound lane in front of her. She swerved to avoid a collision. She was transported to Middlesex Hospital with minor injuries.

8.17.2006: At 2:00 a.m. a window pane of a Chestnut Hill Road home was broken by a large rock. The incident is under investigation.

At approximately 2:30 a.m. a window was smashed out of a vehicle on Spencer Hill Road. The windshield was also damaged. The incident is under investigation.

8.13.2006: Jose Lopes, 72, of Wallingford, was traveling east on Rte. 148 in his 1946 GMC 6x6 when he began climbing a hill in the area of #415 Rte. 148. Lopes attempted to downshift as the vehicle was moving approximately 8-10 mph. He was unable to get the vehicle into gear and started rolling backwards in a westward direction. Lopes saw that two vehicles were behind him and he turned the wheel such that he crossed into the adjacent lane and went over the shoulder into and embankment. The guard rail was scraped and bent and the vehicle was damaged. There were no injuries reported. Lopes was cited for failure to carry an insurance card.