TURNER – Of the 272 new-to-the-district students entering SAD 52 this year, 49 are certified for enrollment in the Special Education Program, according to Director Deb Allen.

She gave district directors the breakdown by schools: 12 in special ed of 81 new students entering Greene Central School; eight in Leeds Central of 43 new students; 12 in Turner Primary of 93 new students; five in Turner Elementary of 10; six in Tripp Middle of 23 new; six in Leavitt Area High School of 23 new students.

Allen said the figures were compiled from June 15 to the first week in September based on information on the students moving into the district from other school systems. She noted the state subsidy for funding special education is set at just about 15 percent of a school system’s enrollment. She said her figures are 18 percent of the total newcomers to the district.

Pupil evaluation teams in each school system in Maine determine the eligibility of each student requesting enrollment in special education programs. Those teams comprise students’ families, teachers, administrators, other faculty and/or professional evaluators who may be necessary in a particular case. Students are certified for one year; a student moving to a different school system is automatically eligible until his or her time for re-evaluation.

In other matters, the board heard from Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Darlene Burdin that Greene and Leeds Central Schools, as well as Turner Elementary and Tripp Middle Schools, have all met the federal adequate yearly progress requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act for the 2005-’06 school year.

Burdin said administrators and teachers are “Very pleased with the results our students have produced. We are very excited that we are meeting these outside requirements, but even more excited to be meeting our goals.”

She pointed to more than 20 support structures in place within the district to help any student in any class in any subject. She said the programs are helping students succeed, and “helping the district achieve its goal of a quality education for every student.”

In other business, it was announced that Sonia Jespersen was hired as the K-12 substance abuse counselor/coordinator.

Supt. Thomas Hanson reported on the progress of the group putting together a proposal for a regional alternative school. He said the group continues to include superintendents from Jay, Livermore, Buckfield, Winthrop and himself. He said it is fairly certain the school will not be for just “at risk” students, that it will provide different means of teaching and learning, that members of the group are visiting similar schools throughout Maine and a model school in Providence, R.I.

Hanson said the committee was surprised to learn of a recent study that found nearly 50 percent of American high school students are “chronically disengaged” from their school work. He said information such as that will guide the group in devising a curriculum for the regional alternative school.