增加特許學校與否 麻州長波市長不同調

麻州該不該放寬特許學校（charter school）成立，麻州州長和波士頓市長不同調。

麻州州長查理貝克（Charlie Baker）上週宣佈法案，要在全州各地擴大辦理特許學校。波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin Walsh）13日卻稱該做法很危險，一旦特許學校數目增加太快，地方學區即已存在學校的預算，將在無準備下被擠乾。

馬丁華殊在州政府大樓表示，沒有適當的董事會，學校設施，就設立特許學校，可能就是等失敗而已。

馬丁華殊和查理貝克在擴建特許學校一事上，早前似乎意見一致。

查理貝克提議在標準考試成績低於25%的地區，諸如波士頓，新貝福（New Bedford），賽冷（Salem），聖約克（ Holyoke ），以及羅倫斯（Lawrence）等地，新建12所學校，或擴建原有的特許學校。

該法案技術上認定全州建特許學校的上限為120所，特別是有公家資助的學校。

13日，查理貝克出席麻州議會教育委員會的公聽會，作證。

圖片說明：

            麻州州長查理貝克出席估聽會，建議擴攝特許學校。（圖由麻州州長辦公室提供）

民藝坊登山慶雙十

中華民俗藝術工作坊11日「慶祝中華民國104年國慶登山健行」，近百人浩蕩遊覽Leominster 州立森林公園，沿途欣賞大自然風光，滿山楓紅的十月秋色。帶隊團長張昆（後左一），以及參加活動的駐波士頓經文處處長賴銘琪，波士頓華僑文教中心主任郭大文等人，個個欣喜表示，此行讓人心曠神怡。（圖由僑教中心提供）

威脅平民的資深警察辭職

七月份時，在一段視頻中威脅一名騎摩托車者，要在他頭上打出個洞的麥得福（Medford）市偵探警察 ，留薪停職二個多月後，13日辭職了。

麥得福市長Michael McGlynn的辦公室，13日接受了有意退休的警官Stephen LeBert辭職。

原訂週四舉行，有關該名警官行為的紀律聽證會，也因此取消了。

Stephen LeBert當警察已30多年，7月26日他在高（High）街十字路口被車輛儀錶版上的照相機錄到了一段視頻。當時他已下班，卻在一個圓環路口攔下了開錯方向的駕駛人Michael Coates。

            在視屏中，可以聽得到Michael Coates告訴Stephen LeBert，他不知道LeBert是警察，也沒看到標誌牌。LeBert威脅要沒收Coates的儀表板照相機，做為他車開錯方向，造成公共危險的證據。

            LeBert 曾在2012年時被告誡過，1992年時也曾因為和一名鄰居對抗而被紀律處份。

MAYOR WALSH ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS TO APPLY FOR BOSTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE

MAYOR WALSH ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS TO APPLY FOR BOSTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE

BOSTON - Wednesday, October 14, 2015 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced that the Boston School Committee is accepting applications for two open school committee seats. The nominating panel is currently accepting applications for two four-year terms beginning on January 4, 2016. The deadline to submit applications is Monday, November 9 at 5:00 p.m. "Schools are the backbone of our communities, and we need strong and caring leaders on the Boston School Committee to make the best choices for our student's future," said Mayor Walsh. "Our School Committee members are tasked with the important role of offering valuable input to increase pathways to success for all students, and I look forward to bringing new voices to the table." The Boston School Committee is the governing body of the Boston Public Schools. The School Committee is responsible for: Defining the vision, mission and goals of the Boston Public Schools; Establishing and monitoring the annual operating budget; Hiring, managing and evaluating the Superintendent; and Setting and reviewing district policies and practices to support student achievement The seven members of the School Committee are Boston residents appointed by the Mayor to serve four-year staggered terms. The Mayor appoints members from a list of candidates recommended by a 13-member Citizens Nominating Panel composed of parents, teachers, principals and representatives of the business and higher education communities. The Committee also includes a non-voting student member of the Boston Student Advisory Council. The School Committee meets approximately twice per month during the school year to adopt, review and modify policies and practices that support teaching, learning and improved student achievement. With the exception of executive sessions, Committee meetings are open to the public, feature public comment periods and are broadcasted on Boston City TV. For more information on the Boston School Committee, please click here.

Governor Baker to File Legislation to Comply with Federal REAL ID Act

麻州州長查理貝克（Charlie Baker ）昨（14）日遞出法案，企圖使麻州與聯邦真實身份法（REAL ID Act）更契合。

聯邦真實身份法是911委員會提出的法案，規定了各州政府在發放駕照及居民身份卡時必須至少符合哪些標準。

            查理貝克表示，麻州承諾要和議會及聯邦夥伴合作，為持有證件者提供更多消費者選擇，更大安全。

            在新標準於來年實施時，麻州將符合聯邦政府規定的標準，持證麻州民眾也可獲准進入聯邦大樓，登上國內飛機。

            一旦實施了，所有的登記系統也更新了，所有的新駕照，麻州身分證申請者將必須符合真實身份法的所訂定的標準，才能拿到證件。

            法案中建議的模式，將容許持有效社安號碼的現有的駕照或身分證持有者，選擇更新現有憑據，或申請真實身份證。

            只有真實身份證具有諸如做為進入聯邦政府大樓有效憑據，以及登上國內飛機的好處。

            由於麻州和全美大約一半的州政府一樣，還享有展延遵循規定權益，麻州證件持有人目前還不受國土安全局的執行法規限制。麻州汽車登記局（Registry of Motor Vehicles）將向國土安全局申請第二次展延，並需要有關當局在明年夏天，議會會期結束之前實施。

            根據麻州現行法令，駕照及身分證的有效期限是60個月。新法案將就遵循真實身份法做重大改變，授權登記處處長在消費者有權居留美國的時間少於五年時，只發給相同於居留時間效期的證件。

Governor Baker to File Legislation to Comply with Federal REAL ID Act

BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker will file legislation to bring Massachusetts further in line with the requirements of the federal REAL ID Act. The Act, the result of work by the 9/11 Commission, sets minimum standards that states must meet during the issuance and manufacture of driver’s licenses and Massachusetts resident identification cards.

“We are committed to working with the legislature and our federal partners to provide both greater security and customer choice for our credential holders,” said Governor Baker. “As new standards take effect in the coming years, this legislation will allow us to meet the standards mandated by the federal government so that our citizens will be able to enter federal buildings and board domestic flights.”

Once enacted and all Registry systems have been upgraded, all new driver’s license and Massachusetts identification card applicants will need to meet REAL ID standards to be issued a license or ID card in the Commonwealth. The model to be proposed in the legislation offers current license or ID card holders with valid social security numbers the option to renew their existing credential or apply for a REAL ID.

Only a REAL ID carries certain benefits such as serving as a valid form of identification to enter federal facilities and, once enforcement begins, the ability to board domestic flights.

Massachusetts credential holders currently are not subject to enforcement rules set by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) because the Commonwealth has a valid compliance extension, as do approximately half of the states in the country. The Registry of Motor Vehicles will file for a second extension with DHS and would need authority to begin implementation by the end of the legislative session next summer.

Under current Massachusetts law, licenses and IDs are issued for a period of 60 months. The legislation will make a critical and required change toward REAL ID compliance by authorizing the Registrar to issue credentials valid only for a customer’s authorized length of stay in the United States if that time is less than 5 years.

MEDICAID FRAUD CHIEF NAMED PRESIDENT OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAID FRAUD CONTROL UNITS

MEDICAID FRAUD CHIEF NAMED PRESIDENT OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAID FRAUD CONTROL UNITS

BOSTON – The Attorney General’s Chief of the Medicaid Fraud Division has been named president of the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units (NAMFCU), Attorney General Maura Healey announced today. George Zachos was elected by his peers at the annual meeting earlier this month.

“For years, George has brought strong leadership and expertise to protecting the integrity of our health care system in Massachusetts,” AG Healey said. “His skills will be instrumental as the new president of the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units in its continued work to protect taxpayers from fraud and abuse across the country.”

The AG’s Medicaid Fraud Division is an active participant within NAMFCU, meeting regularly with its counterparts across the nation to promote training programs while discussing emerging trends in fighting healthcare fraud and elder abuse. The AG’s Office is often called upon to present at national trainings. Attorneys and investigators within the MFD have long served as leaders within the various sub-committees of NAMFCU. 

“I am grateful for the opportunity to have served with George this past year, as we tackled some difficult issues,” said former NAMFCU president Bruce Lieberman, Director of the Alabama Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. “His demeanor and willingness to listen and work with all involved served us well as an Association and I know that he will continue to move us forward as he begins his term as President of NAMFCU.”

As president, Zachos will be the principal spokesperson for NAMFCU, will preside at Association meetings, and will set priorities for the Association.  Founded in 1978, NAMFCU has played a role in providing the state’s Medicaid Fraud Control Units with a national presence, developing and implementing training, and working with the Department of Justice and the United States Department of Health and Human Services on issues that impact Medicaid Fraud.  

Zachos has close to 20 years of litigation experience and has served as chief of the AG’s Medicaid Fraud Division since 2012, conducting both civil and criminal investigations and prosecutions of health care providers who defraud the Massachusetts Medicaid program (MassHealth). In addition, the Medicaid Fraud Division is responsible for reviewing complaints of abuse, neglect, mistreatment and financial exploitation of patients in long-term care facilities. Zachos, an Easton resident, is a graduate of Boston College and the University of Oklahoma College of Law.