The regulations will be voted on at the next board meeting.
By Cora C. Briggs
Special to the Sun Journal

LIVERMORE FALLS –

Changes proposed to the SAD 36 Transportation Services Policy are in effect as of Wednesday’s school opening, although they have not yet received official board approval.

After discussing the changes with several parents and day care providers last week, directors agreed to authorize Superintendent Terry Despres to put the policy into effect, even though it had not gone through the board’s usual three meetings for acceptance.

The official vote will be taken at the next meeting but, in the meantime, the policy is in effect.

The proposed changes actually have eased some of the restrictions in the original by allowing for parents to designate an alternate pick-up or drop-off place for their students at the beginning of school, and makes allowance for emergency situations.

Arrangements for an alternate pick-up or drop-off spot during the year must be made in writing with at least a three-day notice, the policy requires.

Despres said that he was strongly supportive of the changes recommended by the Transportation Committee. He explained that they were needed because the original policy approved last year wasn’t being followed and had resulted in many abuses.

“The problem is abuse of the policy, we’re trying to remedy a bad situation and limit the abuse. Abuse is when someone tells us something and it isn’t true.

“We can’t be responsible for delivery of students all over,” he stressed. As many as 70 requests had come in on one day, he explained, noting that drivers sometimes were not certain where children should go.

“Drivers have been asked to make administrative decisions when they’re not suppose to. The safety of the child is foremost,” he explained.

In at least one instance, involving a non-custodial parent, the Department of Human Services and the police were involved, he said.

The board also approved students and staff handbooks with Despres saying this will be the last time there will be separate ones for each building. He had hoped for a universal handbook this year but found the policies and procedures were not all in line.

Despres is still negotiating for the removal of the two remaining portables since the original agreement fell through.

Tentative dates were set for a local board retreat and for a joint meeting with Jay officials.

Ashley O’Brien was named as the board’s delegate to the Maine School Management Association’s fall conference Oct. 23.

Action on a request by Food Services Director Paula Wade was postponed to a later date.

A complete review needs to be done of the nutrition program, Despres explained, to see why kids don’t eat at certain levels. “We need to know what to do to meet students’ nutritional needs,” he said.

Parents are urged to apply for the free and reduced price meals, Despres said, as it helps the kids with good nutrition and the district with more federal money.

Federal subsidy for meals is based on a national figure but the median income nationally is much higher than that in Maine, so more students are eligible.

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