The Gorham School Committee met for a Special Meeting on Wednesday, June 24. This was the last scheduled meeting of the school year and all seven members were present.
The committee approved for a second reading the following policies: Cell Phones and Other Personal Electronic Devices in Schools (JICJ), Athletics (JJI), Tobacco Use and Possession (ADC) and Field Trips and Excursions (IJOA). This action resulted in the schools having a “bell to bell” cell phone ban in place by Aug. 1 as required by the passage of the state budget.
The School Committee authorized Superintendent Heather Perry to engage in conversations with the town manager and Town Council about a possible referendum request to be included on the November ballot (7-0). The proposal would include five items: GHS portable replacement- replace tan portable (4 classrooms) and white portable (2 classrooms), GHS parking and sidewalks ADA access and drainage, GHS window replacement, GHS door replacement and GHS brick veneer.
The committee authorized the superintendent to pursue a lease on an available property for the relocation of Adult Education Offices (7-0). She was granted the opportunity to negotiate a 3-year lease pursuant to a one-time budget allocation of $56,000 and a yearly rate of $33,000.
The committee approved (7-0) the following personnel for the 2026-27 school year: Luke Shultz as Band/Music Teacher at Gorham Middle School, Halloran Chase as 8th Grade ELA/SS Teacher (1-year position) at Gorham Middle School and Sandra Muehle as Elementary Alternative Programming Teacher at Great Falls Elementary.
The committee authorized the superintendent to issue teacher contracts during the School Committee’s summer break and to inform them at the first meeting of the year of any issued contracts. Currently, there are four open positions within the district: three in special education and a GHS math teacher.
The committee went into executive session to consider the annual evaluation of the Superintendent of Schools. Returning from the executive session, the committee delayed taking action on any proposal. Superintendent Perry will continue to work through her current contract (which is good through 2028).