Community briefs

By Globe Staff, 12/2/2001

PLYMOUTH

Meetings changed due to Ramadan

The Plymouth Interfaith Clergy Association planned a weekly series of programs on Islam, but adjusted its schedule to accommodate the arrival of Ramadan. ''Exploring Islam: An Interfaith Conversation'' was originally set to begin with two sessions on learning about Islam, followed by three sessions with guests from the Islamic community in Dartmouth. The series was rearranged to allow Moslems to participate in the first two sessions before the start of Ramadan on Nov. 16. Moslems observe Ramadan, the month the Koran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammed, by fasting from dawn to sunset.

Last Tuesday's session pointed out that 5 to 6 million Moslems live in America - about double the number of Episcopalians. About one-fifth of the world's population follows Islam. Most Moslems live outside of the Middle East.

The session also explored similarities and differences among the teachings of three major religions - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

The meetings are held in the parish hall of Christ Episcopal Church in Plymouth. Though Ramadan continues through Dec. 14, women from Dartmouth's Islamic community have agreed to attend the final session on Tuesday, from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

Town hears effects of budget cuts

Representatives Thomas J. O'Brien, a Kingston Democrat and Vinny M. deMacedo, a Plymouth Republican and state Senator Therese Murray, a Democrat from Plymouth, attended Tuesday night's selectmen's meeting to explain the local impact of state budget cuts. As expected, the town will have to make do with less.

It could be a hard road ahead for the town's Department of Public Works. At Tuesday night's selectmen's meeting, officials said state highway aid to Plymouth will be cut by about $150,000. Payments in lieu of taxes on $15 million in state land in Plymouth will decrease by about $202,000 and lottery funds will likely be off $72,000.

Murray said work on the new Route 44, from Route 3 to Carver, should not be affected by the cuts, but that depends on the economy not getting any worse. Murray also said leaks in Big Dig tunnels could force the state to borrow another $500 million to $1 billion, which could impact state highway aid to cities and towns.

Plymouth will receive $20.3 million in school money, a $950,000 increase over last year, but O'Brien told selectmen the town's proposed high school and elementary school building projects could be affected by cuts.

Reimbursement could take up to six years, he said, which may make it even more difficult to get voter approval.

The state budget deficit is estimated at $1.4 billion. About $800 million of that will be made up from state reserve accounts. The rest will come from budget cuts.

REGION

Search is readied for schools chief

Now that Patricia Randall, superintendent of the Silver Lake Regional School District, has agreed to be Pembroke's first superintendent, region officials are eager to begin the search for a replacement. But the process can't start until Randall submits her formal resignation to region officials in writing, according to Fred Dupere, Silver Lake's attorney. That had yet to happen by Tuesday's School Committee meeting.

Once Randall's resignation is official, a consultant will be hired to gather a pool of qualified candidates. The committee will be made up of 13 members, and will consist of four teachers from the various elementary schools and the junior and senior high school, an elementary administrator and secondary administrator, four School Committee members, and a member-at-large from each of the three regional towns.

Officials in Kingston, Halifax, and Plympton thought Randall would begin as Pembroke's superintendent Jan. 1, but they learned last Monday that she plans to work out the 120-day notice required in her contract and assume the Pembroke job at the end of March.

This story ran on page 2 of the Boston Globe's South Weekly section on 12/2/2001.
© Copyright 2001 Globe Newspaper Company.