By Kenneth Roberts,Special to the Sun Journal

TURNER – Seven new teachers at four different schools were hired by the MSAD 52 Board of Directors on Thursday evening and a major change in the technology department leadership structured was approved.

The new teachers are Lisa Ingraham, instructing art in K through 6 in the Leeds and Greene Central Schools; Kathryn Buckley, special education, Greene Central; Jerryanne LaPerierre, foreign language, Tripp Middle School; Rebecca Kent, kindergarten, Leeds Central; and Kerri Becker, English, Laura Wyman, mathematics, Jake Foster, social studies, all at Leavitt Area High School.

Shared responsibility and leadership are the qualities being sought by the board in reshaping the administrative structure of the technology department. Three persons will be named to the new positions outlined by the plan developed by a committee of staff, administration and directors.

The two positions of technology systems coordinator and technology integration/training coordinator will share leadership of the department and report directly to the superintendent and assistant superintendent. Both positions will have salaries of $50,00 for 230 days. Database management and repair support will be the responsibility of the third new position in the structure, with a 230-day salary of $30,000. With the salaries prorated to Oct. 1 for this year, the cost of the revised leadership for the department will be just about the same as under the old structure. Any differences in that annual cost in future years will be dealt with during those budget cycles.

Superintendent Thomas J. Hanson noted the draft job descriptions for the positions list preferred qualifications rather than requiring them, emphasized leadership qualities as well as knowledge and experience, and focused on experience in education.

Principal Cheryl McKeagney of the Leeds Central School received approval to revise the bus schedule for kindergarten students. In the past, two bus runs had been required for the morning and afternoon sessions, and students were placed based on whether they lived in the north or south end of town. Students are now placed based on their needs, and one bus will be able to drop off and pick up students on the same run. Directors expressed concern about the length of time students will spend on the bus and received assurances that situation would remain about the same, with only one or two students being on the bus for as much as 45 to 50 minutes.

Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Darlene Burdin reported that the district has obtained approval of its applications for two of five titles under the No Child Left Behind Act. She said educational technology projects totaling $4,000 and innovative education projects totaling $24,192 have been approved by the State Department of Education. Still awaiting approval are basic disadvantage projects in the amount of about $290,000, teacher quality projects totaling about $76,700, and safe and drug free schools projects of $8,300.

Burdin said she is optimistic for early approval of funding for the projects, but cautioned that the innovative education funds had been reduced by about one-third for this year, with concern that they will not be funded at all in the future. Building curriculum to raise student achievement and assisting students who are falling behind are the main uses for these funds.

Three-year lease/purchase agreements for two 2005 school buses were approved through Gorham Savings Leasing at an interest rate of 4.5 percent.

Discussion was held on an anonymous parental request for a child now living in Leeds to continue in elementary school in Turner. Hanson said he had communication from a parent who said her child has problems acclimating to change, had experienced much difficulty after moving to Turner five years ago, but had “enormous success” at Turner Elementary School. According to Hanson, the parent was concerned another change at this time would be difficult for the child.

School policy is absolute in this area, directors noted, stating that children will attend elementary school in the town of residence. During discussion of the request for an exception presented by Hanson, directors noted the parent did not note any documentation of the child’s issues, there is no certified disability and the parent had not brought the child’s issues to the attention of his TES teachers or principal.

To facilitate discussion of the request, Director Wallace Veilleux had moved the board approve the exception and allow the child to continue school in Turner. After the discussion, he asked for and received permission to withdraw his motion, and the child will attend school in Leeds.

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