School Committee discusses Ski-Tuesday, Web site, laptops
By Caroline King
Special to the Sun Journal

RANGELEY – Rangeley Lakes Regional School Principal Donald Salm, who has been at the school for two days, gave his early impressions of the school to the School Committee when it met recently.

“I have been happily amazed by the amount of things that are handled in the classroom,” he said. “The staff does such a good job.”

Interim Principal Virginia Nuttall, who has been at the school to aid in the transition during Salm’s first week, will end her involvement on Nov. 7.

Superintendent Ken Coville gave a report regarding the Ski-Tuesday program. The program, facilitated by Wendy Dodge, begins Jan. 20 and lasts for 10 weeks. Dodge is a local resident and ski instructor.

School bus transportation from the school will be available. Buses leave the school at 12:30 p.m. and leave Saddleback at approximately 3:45 p.m. Students not participating in the Ski-Tuesday program will be dismissed from school at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Coville said the school will receive a $200 grant from Franklin County Retired Teachers. The grant is to be given to one teacher based on a proposal submission. Coville saw the grant as an opportunity for teachers at the school.

The School Committee had a first reading of a proposed policy on use of the school Web site. The school’s Web site is “developed, operated and maintained as a closed forum to provide community access to information about the school and its programs and activities,” according to the proposed policy.

The policy is designed to protect students and staff and to ensure that the school board provides clear guidance on Web site standards and expectations.

The School Committee also considered the first reading of the Maine Learning Technology Initiative Laptop Home Use.

The program would allow eighth-grade students “who have demonstrated appropriate care and responsibility for their laptops at school” to take them home if they have teacher approval and a signed parent release form. The school board is considering Dec. 3 at a parent/student meeting as the start date of the new take-home policy for eighth-grade students, with a later date for seventh-grade students.

There was a review of the school cancellation policy. According to the policy, Coville or Salm would work in coordination with the Rangeley Highway Department to determine the need to cancel or delay school due to the road conditions. The decision is usually made by 6 a.m. to ensure timely notification of teachers and parents by the school’s calling tree system.

Coville also noted that school bus drivers have the authority to make decisions about the safety of particular roads along their routes, and parents may choose to make the decision as to whether their child attends school during inclement weather.

The committee entered executive session to discuss contract negotiations with the Rangeley Teachers Association.

The next board meeting is at 6 p.m. Nov. 18 at Rangeley Lakes Regional School.

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