LIVERMORE FALLS — An accreditation report on the Livermore Falls Middle School listed 47 commendations for achievements and 42 recommendations that need to be addressed.

Seven of the recommendations are related to the school building that was initially built in the early 1900s, Principal Robert Kahler told the school board recently.

Staff is already addressing all the remaining recommendations, with more than half addressed directly, he said.

A visiting team from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges visited the school in 2010 and the school was accredited later that year.

The self-study of the middle school was done over a year and was organized and directed by a steering committee. Members were Chairwoman Julie Bolduc, Michelle DeBlois, Robin Ouellette, Brad Bishop, John DiSotto, Misty Martin, Jenny Easter and Dawn Pettengill.

During the self-study phase, it was the responsibility of the steering committee to appoint subcommittees of staff and parents to assess the school in relation to each of the seven Standards for Accreditation and to the school’s Mission Statement, the association’s report states.

Among the recommendations targeting the school building are to give immediate attention to an ongoing plan to address facility needs and capital improvement and to review Americans with Disability Act regulations and specifications to develop a strategy to come into compliance.

RSU 36 Board of Directors is seeking input from community members on whether they should close the middle school and send students in grades six through eight to Jay Middle School.

There is an open house at the Jay school from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 1, so people can get a look at it.

The RSU 36 board is holding a meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 2, at the Livermore Falls Middle School cafeteria to hear from community members on the school before making its decision that night. An independent facility study done on the school in 2008, indicated that $3.1 million was needed to upgrade the facility to acceptable educational use condition.

Regardless of where the Livermore Falls Middle School students go to school, the accreditation certification follows if the steps outlined in the report are followed, RSU 36 Superintendent Sue Pratt said previously.

Among the commendations related to instruction were that school staff provided academic, civic and researched-based instruction, created an instructional environment where students and staff feel capable, connected, creative and supported in their learning environment and effectively integrating literacy throughout all content areas and supporting literacy focus through staffing and programming.

Recommendations for instruction include to develop and publish consistent, measurable expectations for schoolwide academic achievement; create opportunities for professional development that support the use of technology as a tool for effective instruction and content areas. The report also states that a professional development plan focused on improving instruction, establishing best practices and implementing differential instructional strategies should be implemented.

Under the leadership and organization standard, a commendation was given for providing a climate that is positive, respectful, structured and safe for staff and students.

A recommendation under that category is to develop a strategy to increase meaningful opportunities for parental involvement and participation in the school decision-making process.

The visiting team’s report thanked staff for welcoming them into the school and community.

“We could not have found a more compassionate, more generous, and welcoming staff to work with your community’s young people to help them succeed and be the best that they can be. From the hallways to the classroom, your school pride was evident to us all,” the report states.

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