NEW GLOUCESTER – Alan Rich of New Gloucester was unanimously re-elected chairman of the SAD 15 board Wednesday. Peter Pinkerton of Gray was elected vice chairman.
Kathleen Potter of New Gloucester and Will Burrows of Gray, recently elected members, were welcomed.
The meeting heralds the advent of the summer season and a lighter meeting schedule for the board’s regular public sessions. Meetings will be held July 12 at Stimson Hall in Gray and Aug. 16 at Gray-New Gloucester High School.
The board accepted Gray board member Christine Small’s resignation with regret.
The Gray Town Council will launch a search to fill her remaining one-year stint immediately.
Small resigned citing job conflicts with meeting times. She completed two years on the board.
The board authorized the superintendent to issue contracts for teachers as replacements are found and new positions filled over the summer months.
Committee appointments to guide the board’s work were partially completed for the 2006-2007 year. Board members serve on the district’s finance, policy, facilities and personnel committees throughout the year.
The board heard from elementary school principals on the initial results of all-day kindergarten students who attended this year compared to other half day students in the past.
This year marked the first time the district offered all-day kindergarten.
Principals Donna Beeley and Dan Josephs said simple assessments of children have been completed. Though there has been some suggestion there has been growth comparing three groups of students, it’s premature and inconclusive at the present time to reach any conclusions on the success of all-day kindergarten until more data and students are tested.
A preliteracy skills test was administered to kindergarten students in the fall and spring. And, students are assessed in a developmental readiness test in grades one through eight in the fall and spring, also.
The data may need to be interpreted in a more scientific manner, if possible.
The students will be tracked over years.
Board member Will Burrows, a veteran educator, questioned if that was possible. “You don’t have a clean, pure study in public schools and you will never have one,” he said.
The board approved a bond package to fund 36 revolving renovation bonds to renovate and build additions to five district schools through funds from the Maine Bond Bank.
A $4.81 million bond was approved by the state through the revolving renovation fund that voters in Gray and New Gloucester approved last November. The state will forgive $2.6 million while the district will make 10 annual repayments to replenish funds to the state.
And, the board approved borrowing up to $1,814,684 payable with no interest in 10 equal payments to the state.
Comments are no longer available on this story