Organization lends support to school plan
$35 million addition to get boost from Thompson group
Our primary focus is on town activities, but we're all interested in the school project, said Beth Goldsmith, who was re-elected to lead Thompson Together at its annual meeting last night. Ms. Goldsmith said she would lend the group's e-mail list to Thompson People for Quality Education to help get out information concerning the proposed school expansion. A member of TPQE, Jody Houghton, attended last night's meeting to get some ideas for enhancing the chances of success for the school addition referendum March 1.
We want to get as many ideas as we can for getting the word out, to have as many informed voters as possible, she said.
Those ideas include door-to-door canvassing to educate people about the proposed school addition, coupled with a day-of-the-referendum telephone campaign to remind people to vote.
The addition would include an early childhood center attached to the present middle school, and an auditorium attached to the present high school. All three schools are joined in one complex.
Thompson Together member Al Landry says the school addition is a must for the town, and even if the expansion does take place, the town is soon going to have to revisit its school space.
Unless building (of new homes) comes to a screeching halt pretty soon, we're going to be planning a new school before this (proposed) addition is even finished, Mr. Landry said, basing his statement on 46- and 18-house subdivision projects in the works and another 33-house subdivision already having received some necessary town approval.
Thompson Together, while backing the school addition, is primarily concerned with the environment and is the guiding force behind the town's annual art show and spring cleanup, which last year drew more than 300 volunteers.
Thompson Together Environment Committee chairman Norma O'Leary says new members are welcome to attend meetings at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at Town Hall.
Last fall, the group held its first Community Day, a fun day designed to bring residents together and inspire pride in the towns.
We are a committed force, energized by our own dreams of what we think might improve life in Thompson for all inhabitants, reads the group's vision statement.
The group was originally funded by a grant provided by the Graustein Fund, a private foundation, which is expected to give Thompson Together another $3,000 to work with this year, according to member Sara Laughlin, the town's grant writer.
As it continues to grow and becomes a productive force within the community, the group is seeking official nonprofit status granted by the Internal Revenue Service.
It also seeks to answer questions, some esoteric, such as the extent of town support for its endeavors, and others more practical, such as whether or not the group's leaders are protected by the town's insurance in the event of a lawsuit.
It is the mission of Thompson Together to help make good things happen within the town of Thompson by providing an organized structure which can support committed volunteers who are working on issues that promote enhanced quality of life, Ms. Goldsmith said. We are committed to including all community members, addressing the concerns of the town's citizens, enhancing communications between individuals, neighborhoods, organizations and government and to improving the quality of life for all residents of Thompson.