The June 14 School Committee meeting began by welcoming some fourth and fifth grade Ambassador students from Great Falls Elementary School. The students had successfully completed a community service project by buying and planting a tree. When Abby Chamberlin saw trees “being pulled out of the ground” she had enlisted other students to help her raise money for the project. They made and sold bracelets for one dollar, raising $200.05 for the new tree they planted on the school grounds.
Superintendent Heather Perry announced that there was to date no proposed state budget. She said that if no budget had been approved by the end of the legislative session, the Gorham School District had sufficient funds to meet obligations for several months.
She also announced that the district was able to purchase 60 used mini-iPads from another district which will not replace machines, but add to the program for special education students. She congratulated GHS principal Brian Jandreau on an impressive graduation and the successful Project Graduation event that gave graduates a safe place to celebrate.
Assistant Superintendent Chris Record gave a brief report on the fifth grade foreign language pilot project. Students attended classes one day a week with a Confucius Institute instructor. Although they learned about another culture and got a taste of the language, he said this was a short-term project and not a long-term solution to expanding the district language program. SC member Sara Nelson commented on the possibility of engaging teachers from another country through exchanges.
Perry reviewed her annual State of the Schools Report, emphasizing what she believes to be the strengths of the district and the challenges it faces. She highlighted student achievement, the dedicated, effective staff, and parental and community support. Challenges included enrollment increases, facilities improvement, configuring the K-5 schools, increasing meaningful hands-on experiences for students, the expanding special education program, and finding ways to give students more “real world” experiences.
Chairs of standing committees and Ad hoc committees reported progress. The GHS Facilities Committee is meeting with the Town Council June 27 to review options suggested by the feasibility study. The School Day Committee reviewed a survey of sleep habits that showed 80 percent of students do not get the recommended 8.5 to 10 hours of sleep. They will be surveying parents and staff for their input.
The SC voted unanimously (6-0) to changes in the Immunization Policy to conform to State requirements. They approved appointment of nine elementary teachers and a K-5 counselor, and authorized 5 percent budget transfers between cost centers if needed. They also voted unanimously to authorize a memorandum of understanding with Westbrook for a vocational program at the Westbrook Regional Vocational Center (WRVC).
A proposal to make an exception to the Nepotism Policy was defeated (3-3, Libby, Phillips, Burns). Members who voted no said their concern was not with the people involved, but with setting a precedent in a case where other options were available.