Schools
School District to Re-Evaluate How It Shares Information With Police
District officials will look to better involve the police in drug activity by taking another look at the "Memorandum of Understanding," which lays out communication between the district and the town.
Trying to keep police informed about drug activity at the school, district officials said last week they would revisit the district's "Memorandum of Understanding," a document that asks all levels of authority in the town to disclose to each other the criminal activity of any student in the district.
Dedham High School principal Jacob Santamaria said they may not have to change anything, but in the six years since it was written, all the offices involved have changed staff. Santamaria explained that all high school students are encouraged to report any unlawfulness they see.
The purpose of the document is a way for the community to address underage drinking and drug use and any serious reportable acts deemed necessary for arrests.
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If anyone is interested in viewing the document in its current incarnation, it is on the high school's website and the student handbook has it in its entirety.
Athletic Field Construction to Begin Soon
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Also at the meeting it was announced that construction on the football field at Dedham High School will begin shortly. The fall athletic teams will be bussed to fields at Noble and Greenough for games.
The new high school playing field will feature synthetic turf, a new press box, a scoreboard, a six lane track and new restrooms. The $3.1 million project does not include new lighting. Santamaria said the district put together a committee to fundraise for field lights constructed.
The committee consists of Tom Ryan, Teresa Sullivan, Bob Crisp, Kevin Hanpe, Jaime Paxson and Peter Springer.
The lighting will cost an estimated $280,000 said Tom Ryan, Dedham School Committee chair. Ryan said that currently they are selling bricks to the new stadium with the purchaser's names on them.
The committee is combing local businesses to ask for donation and so far, Dedham Savings Bank has donated $75,000. Ryan said, in total, they have a little more than $100,000 that will go towards the field's lighting. He added that with start of football season he is hoping to see an increase in contributions towards the project.
