Conducted on February 19, 2014, the Board of Education meeting was led by Ronald Goldstein and also included board members Donald Kennedy and Mary Tomasi. Because Superintendent Jeff Mathieu was out of state, Barbara Gilbert, director of teaching and learning, was designated interim superintendent. This meeting did not focus on the upcoming budget proposal, but rather addressed current and future projects and ideas, and recognized the accomplishments of members within the school community. Based solely on the meeting held on February 19, the council's responsiveness in meeting citizens' needs and requests was commendable. Among the major projects and proposals addressed were the Building Project at William J. Johnson, the enrollment policy at Bacon Academy, and Joseph Hage's proposal to build a bridge behind Bacon Academy. Brought into question by Ronald Goldstein, the Building Project at William J. Johnston was an ongoing project in Colchester. The initial proposal called for building both a senior center and recreational fields, but the project was rejected when it came up for a vote in the fall. The results of the initial vote indicated that citizens did not feel that this plan was best suited to the city's needs. While discussion about the project was brief, it was mentioned that the new proposal would still include recreational fields, but no longer the senior center. These revisions were made by Donald Kennedy to respond to citizen comments. The first "recharging" meeting to refine the project should have been held on 27 February. While some may argue that the project in its entirety is unnecessary, the ongoing effort made to best meet citizens' demands is indicative of the responsiveness of... half of the document... the fee-paying student policy schools and the Bridge Building Project proposed by Joseph Hage, the Board of Education has repeatedly strengthened its responsiveness to the needs and demands of the citizens of Colchester. After attending this meeting, my preconceptions about local government were strengthened. Understanding that many of these positions are unpaid, I expected council members to have a genuine concern for the well-being of Colchester residents. In commending the performance of Bacon Academy athletes and the outstanding custodial staff at Colchester Elementary School, in recognizing the distribution of grants provided by the Colchester Learning Foundation, and in hearing and approving projects that will improve the quality of education for students at city, it has been clear that the Board of Education has Colchester's best interests in mind.