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Antifreeze Poisoning Legislation

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In Massachusetts there is legislation to close the antifreeze poisoning loophole. S.88 An Act Relative to Anti-freeze and Engine Coolant, which would require the addition of a bittering agent to wholesale containers of engine coolant or anti-freeze, which were exempted in the law that passed during the last legislative session. This would expand the current antifreeze law to prevent poisonings of children and animals. On June 12, 2012, S.88 passed the Senate unanimously and is awaiting a final vote in the House. Find out what the laws are in your area and speak to your representatives and let them know that you want to put an end to child and animal antifreeze poisoning deaths.

Antifreeze Poisoning in Massachusetts

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As of 2011, Massachusetts law requires the addition of a bittering agent to retail containers of antifreeze to deter ingestion and poisonings of children and animals. However, many people get their cars serviced at garages, which use wholesale containers of antifreeze that are not treated with a bittering agent. Leaks of untreated antifreeze still result in poisonings. In MA legislation has been filed that would require that wholesale containers, such as those used at automotive service stations, also contain a bittering agent to prevent ingestion. Find out what your state requires and speak to your representatives about a national law.

Solution to the Antifreeze Death Problem

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One solution to the antifreeze death problem is to require all antifreeze manufacturers to add in a non-toxic bittering agent that makes it taste awful. This will save countless lives of children and pets. Many states, and even some cities, are considering legislation requiring the addition of the bitterent denatonium benzoate to antifreeze. This would make the antifreeze virtually impossible for a child or animal to be poisoned by the usually sweet-tasting liquid. Find out if this is required where you live.

Controversial School Fundraising: Needham, MA

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As some schools consider soliciting private individuals and companies to purchase naming rights, others would rather make do without. Needham Public Schools in Needham, MA do not allow sizeable grants or gifts unless there are no strings attached. This means that Needham will not permit large private donations in exchange for naming rights. In addition Needham Public Schools has a policy to not allow private donations that in their opinion would differently advantage a particular school or group within the schools. They will not accept private funds if the money is to be for a “pet project” of the donor because they believe that can lead to inequity among the schools and student population.

Another reason why Needham Public Schools do not involve themselves with receiving donations in exchange for naming rights is that they want sustainable funding. Needham believes that even though a corporation may support the school system with donations for a period of time, this money would not be available forever. If the Needham Public Schools becomes dependent on private money to fund particular programs or teachers, these programs would face rapid elimination if the private money were removed.

What do you think about school systems like Needham, MA that refuse large sums of money in exchange for naming rights? Send us an email and let us know.

Controversial School Fundraising: Newton, MA

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Schools desperate for funding during a sluggish economy have started to turn to private companies and individuals for financial support. For example Newton, MA’s aldermen are deciding on a controversial proposal by the Newton Schools Foundation. The plan is to raise as much as $6 million for educational technology for the Newton Public Schools by selling naming rights to high school spaces.

The district wants to expand the wireless capacity at schools, test out iPads, and offer teachers additional training. This however would cost them approximately $5.6 million over three years. That is far more than the current $1 million annual technology infrastructure budget. If the plan is approved, they should be able to fund all of this technology but at what cost?

The controversy with the naming rights issue comes down to the philosophical question of how much private commercial branding should be brought into the public schools. Is it morally acceptable to allow a private company into a public building and promote their product? Another issue is if Newton, MA were to allow naming rights, what names or types of businesses would be allowed and what may be deemed inappropriate? This easy corporate money may come at the cost of promoting items that for one reason or another some may find offensive. A part of the building could be named after a soft drink, candy bar, sneaker company that runs a foreign sweatshop, or a magazine or newspaper that has a slanted point of view.

The Newburyport Education Foundation has been selling naming rights for a few years. They have been using some of the money raised to update technology throughout the Newburyport Public Schools. They maintain that this money is used for underfunded items such as technology and not for funding basic school needs. Their approach is to sell naming rights as a tool to motivate large donors to donate money and recognize them for their contribution. They have raised as much as $1 million in three years.

Controversial GPA Change in Wellesley, MA?

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Wellesley High School in Wellesley, MA is considering revamping its grade point average system (GPA) in controversial fashion. They would go from a weighted GPA system where GPA is adjusted based on the difficulty of classes to an unweighted system where an “A” in an honors class is worth the same as an “A” in a lower level class.

There are no state or federal regulations as to how GPA is calculated and is left up to each school system. Currently Lexington High School in Lexington, MA already switched to the new unweighted system while Belmont, MA is in the process of doing the same. For the communities of Newton, MA and Arlington, MA, both weighted and unweighted GPAs are calculated.

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