Roberts Weighing Recount Options, 'Disappointed' After Election Loss

Dave Roberts lost Saturday's election by four votes.

  The difference between winning a fifth term on the Dedham School Committee and bringing that career to an end was four votes. And now Dave Roberts, who came in fourth in Saturday's town election, will decide if he will petition Town Clerk Paul Munchbach for a recount of the 1,908 votes. "It's in my thought process right now, but I haven't made a final decision," Roberts said in a phone interview Sunday afternoon. "I need to talk to some close friends about that." Three incumbents - Kevin Coughlin, Joe Heisler and Dave Roberts - looked like shoe-ins for the three open seats for most the election season's seven weeks, but in the final week, a grassroots effort formed to elect Jennifer Barsamian as a write-in candidate. Barsamian finished …

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Week in Review

Week in Review: Manor Bomb Scare, New Avery Opens

A look back at some of the stories we covered this week.

  VIDEO: 'Cornerstone' of East Dedham Opens Local and state officials opened the new $21 milion Avery Elementary School Thursday to a ton of fan-fare. Students will move into the new school following April vacation. Dedham Police Continue Bomb Scare Threat Investigation [PHOTOS] A suspicious package found on Sprague Street in the Manor neighborhood caused Dedham Police to bring in the State Police Bomb Squad to help investigate the package. It was deemed not a threat after two hours. No Opposition in Selectmen's Race an 'Honor' for MacDonald Outgoing chairman of the Board of Selectmen Jim MacDonald entered Saturday's election with no challenger and no public write-in campaign against him, making him as close to a lock for a seventh term as…

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Five-Day Grassroots Campaign Wins Barsamian School Committee Seat

Jennifer Barsamian ran a successful write-in campaign to pick up one of the three open seats.

  Despite just a five-day write-in campaign, Jennifer Barsamian earned a seat on the Dedham School Committee Saturday night. Barsamian received 784 votes, second most among the four major candidates receiving votes. "I was overwhelmed by the support - this was a community win. This was not about me," Barsamian said Saturday night. "This was about [784] people who came out to voice their desire for some change in the School Committee." Incumbent chairman Kevin Coughlin received 885, the most votes. Joe Heisler picked up 715 votes to take the third and final School Committee seat. Incumbent David Roberts finished four votes behind Heisler with 711. Roberts could challenge the results and petition for a recount within the next 10 days, and he…

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Fred Civian

9:12 pm on Sunday, April 15, 2012

Dan - I realize your perception is that the campaign was "prompted strictly by the redistricting issue." There have been a number of news articles recently that contain statements from various people involved in the campaign - Jen included - where a number of other reasons were given. Anyone reading those articles would quickly understand that the campaign was inspired - if that is the right word…   more ›

VIDEO: 'Cornerstone' of East Dedham Opens

Officials praised the opening of the new Avery Elementary School, and students will move after April vacation.

  Principal Clare Sullivan - a 30-year Avery School stalwart - planned to hold a closing ceremony Friday for the current and about to be "old" Avery Elementary School. She'll take down the Avery Pride banners that line the gymnasium and watch as schoolchildren play on a grass-less playground for the final time. In less than 18 months, Avery students went from digging the first dirt to welcoming parents and state officials to their new $21 million school Thursday morning. "I can remember a few short months ago when we gathered at what is now the 50-yard line of the new athletic field to celebrate the setting of a ceremonial beam on this new magnificent structure. At that time the discussion focused on a vision we had for the new Avery …

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Write-in Campaign Makes School Committee Election a Race

Days before the April 14 election, parents are driving a grassroots campaign for one of their own.

  Upset by what they call a lack of communication by the School Committee and department, a group of parents on Tuesday began a write-in campaign for Jennifer Barsamian days before voters go to the polls. The town election is Saturday, April 14. Barsamian and other parents were spurred into action following last month's release of elementary school redistricting and passage of a summer conduct policy. Several parents told committee members at two meetings that there wasn't enough notification of the changes or inclusion of parents in the discussion. "The public perception of the School Committee has really taken a beating," said Jessica Porter, who is leading the write-in campaign. "In large part that's because the leadership of the School…

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Doe, Coughlin Open to Minor Changes to New School Map

Several parents upset with the superintendent and School Committee for what they called a lack of communication and transparency.

  Dedham Public School parents called for more communication and more transparency from the School Committee and superintendent June Doe following what parents have labeled a mishandling of the elementary redistricting issue. Families affected by the changes questioned how the policy sub-committee chose specific streets and made recommendations on how the map could get altered at a School Committee meeting at Dedham High School on Wednesday evening. "This process was insane," said resident Paul Chaplin. "I understand we need to redistrict and I’m not bothered by it, but I am saying we found out about this map by chance." School Committee chairman Kevin Coughlin announced at the beginning of Wednesday's meeting that the committee would not …

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Dan O'Neil

10:33 pm on Wednesday, April 11, 2012

I went to Avery as a youth as did my nephew. There is a very bad prejudice in this town directed at East Dedham and it's really sad. It's like the 60's are still here. Everyone assumes everyone in East Dedham is poor or a thug. The Avery has a nice brand new school that borders both E.D. and Oakdale. After 5th grade you all go to school together until you graduate the school system anyways. This …   more ›

Patch Facts

5 Things You Need to Know Today: April 4

Today's weather, a redistricting meeting with parents and proponents to meet with neighbors about a new senior center.

  "Five Things you Need to Know Today" is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance. 

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Patch Facts

5 Things You Need to Know Today: March 29

Today's weather, a vital high school survey and Dedham Middle School's Open House.

  "Five Things you Need to Know Today" is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance.

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POLL: Dedham School Redistricting

Should the School Committee adopted the proposed changes?

  The Dedham School Committee postponed a vote on redrawing school district lines on Wednesday, and will hold a public hearing on April 6. The plan would reorganize the town's four elementary schools, and change what school new students on dozens of streets enter into as a first-grade student. Less than 20 families would be impacted for the upcoming school year, committee member said. No student currently at an elementary school would be moved. But, parents and homeowners are decrying the change, as some claimed it would negatively impact home values. What do you think? Answer our poll and expand on your thoughts in the comment section below.

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New School Policy to Hold Students Responsible Over Summer

The Dedham School Committee will vote Wednesday on a policy that will extend its violence, drug and alcohol policy to year-round.

  Students who violate the Dedham Public Schools' rules on violence, drugs and alcohol during the summer could receive suspension from school activities the following school year, if the Dedham School Committee approves the new policy Wednesday evening. Currently, the school district only holds students responsible to these rules during school months. Offenses could include anything from drug and alcohol use to bullying and other violent offenses, according to a document posted on the school district's website Tuesday morning. The year-round policy will require Dedham Police Department cooperation to alert the district when a student is involved in an incident. "In order to achieve the goal of a safe, drug‐free community, the cooperation …

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