Photo caption: Gorham Middle School , Photo credit: Roger Marchand
The Gorham School Committee met for their monthly meeting on Monday, Feb. 11, 2026. Chairperson Nicole Yeo-Fisher called the meeting to order and there were five members present (absent: Paulette Tateishi, Eric Thistle). The committee approved the minutes of the Jan. 14 Regular Meeting and the Jan. 28 Workshop Meeting.
Four students from Great Falls School presented Part 2 of the GF Connection Time. This program is designed to strengthen relationships, model restorative practices, build community and provide disability awareness. The activities include read-aloud books, art projects and opportunities for meaningful conversations with students from other grades. In the fall, Part 1 reviewed the community circles that are integral to these lessons. Rumi, Zetty, Charlie and Maeve shared books and artwork from their lessons.
Assistant Superintendent Quinton Donahue announced that the preliminary budget draft was available on the Gorham School District website and that there would be weekly presentations and reviews with the School Committee, beginning with a question and answer discussion on Feb. 23.
Mr. Donahue continued the superintendent’s review of the State of the Schools Report, which is available on the school website. He presented the “metrics for success” and highlighted statistics for the graduated class of 2025.
He also stated that Governor Janet Mills’ budget is proposing a budget increase to the school general fund, and that Mills hopes to increase teacher salaries in the state and provide funds for retrofitting school buses with additional safety devices. She has also proposed a “Bell to Bell” ban on cell phones, which will need to be approved by the legislature.
The following teachers have been nominated for Teacher of the Year: Delainey Kein, Allison Stanley, Kelly Tole, Heather VanLuling, Natasha Jordan, Susan Ferris, Karen Lyford, Sarah Drury, and Stephanie Ramons. The teachers must decide to take the next step for the process to continue.
Each school committee member had an opportunity to report on recent events. Committee member Mia DeSanctis said that with all of the news and recent events that it is easy to “get stuck.”
She is trying to focus on gratitude and doing good. Committee member Michelle Littlefield congratulated community members standing up for others and examples of the code of conduct that she has witnessed in the community. Member Jeffery Ballard congratulated the students involved in “Something Rotten” and also commented on good student behavior that he had witnessed. Chairperson Nicole Yeo-Fisher commented on the budget process and that the committee will meet each Monday in March to review. These meetings will be livestreamed and available to be viewed later on the school website.
The committee approved (5-0) a second reading of four policies: Student Use of Vehicles During the School Day (JLIE), Motorized Vehicles on School Property (JLIF), School-Community Relations (KA) and Parent Involvement in Title I (KBF). They approved (5-0) the School Committee goals and approved (5-0) the 2026-2027 school calendar, both of which had been reviewed in a workshop meeting.