BETHEL – SAD 44 Curriculum Director Lee Graham told school board members Monday that there is a lot of work left to do to make sure the district meets the Maine State Learning Results requirements.

The teachers and administrative staff have come a long way to make sure this year’s Telstar High School freshmen class will be able to meet those requirements by their graduation date in 2007, she said.

“As I have worked throughout the summer I am impressed with all the people I have talked with,” Graham said. “I am impressed with the amount of work that has happened, but according to the Maine commissioner of education there has to be a lot of local assessment in every subject. There is a lot in place, but everything must be valid, reliable and open to the students. They need to have a chance if they don’t pass the first time to try again. So we have a lot of work to do.”

She said the district is required to track all students regarding Learning Result standards to make sure no student is left behind.

“I see this as a lot of time working with teachers. Classrooms can not be just an assessment place. Students must be a part of it,” said Graham.

Meeting the standards through the Federal Title I and II programs means around $354,000 in federal money for the district. The money pays for eight teachers and support personnel, as well as materials.

Graham came to SAD 44 from SAD 21 in Dixfield earlier this summer. She is a graduate of Colby College and the University of Southern Maine where she received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in educational leadership with a focus on educational assessment. She has taught fifth- and sixth-grade students, science, gifted and talented classes at the secondary level, and worked with curriculum coordination in SAD 21

Superintendent David Murphy praised the work done during the summer by Graham.

“We are pleased to have Lee Graham with us, and she has worked hard, very hard, this summer. I think we’re going to be in good shape.”

Murphy told the board that two workshops are planned for later this week to get things ready for the start of classes Tuesday, Sept. 2. On Thursday, Aug. 28, Graham will make a presentation to all staff members, and announcements on staff changes will be made. On Friday comedian Randy Judkins will present “Laughing in the Face of Change,” which ties in with the No Child Left Behind program. Judkins’ performance will be funded by money from the district’s health program.

The board authorized Murphy to dispose of outdated supplies and equipment that is no longer of any use to the system. He said there are books, desks, chairs and other equipment stored that are up to 20 years old, and there is no use for them.

Murphy also agreed that anything that might still have value for others outside the school would be offered to local libraries, towns or nonprofit organizations. And, if there is a fairly high value to any of the equipment the higher valued items would be put out to bid.

“There is no sense in continuing to store outdated items as they just take up space we can use for something else. The best thing to do is dispose of the items in the best way we can,” he said.