RANGELEY — A sentiment expressed by Superintendent Sue Pratt and Principal Charles Brown and echoed by school board members was that it’s great to have students and staff back at the school and to be back at work.

“We stay busy during the summer,” Brown said, “but it’s better with the kids because they’re the reason for all we do.”

Pratt thanked board members who had attended opening day and said that School Board Chairwoman Nancy Hilliard gave a powerful speech to the staff.

The student body assembly on opening day focused on “responsibility,” which will be the year’s theme.

Brown, emphasizing a concern for student safety, proposed a new pick­up rule for students in kindergarten through eighth grade, which would require parents to come inside and sign out their child. Accommodations will be discussed for parents who have babies or toddlers in the car. Superintendent Pratt added that this is a change done for the right reason: safety.

Pratt urged as many board members as possible, including student representatives, to attend the State School Board Conference scheduled for Oct. 23 and 24 in Augusta. Each school is allowed one voting delegate to the assembly, a quasi­legislative body. Acting Chairwoman Pam Ellis proposed Hilliard as the delegate; Hilliard was elected to the post in absentia.

The High School sports season is underway, and grass is growing on the newly refurbished soccer field. Mingo Springs Golf Course has lent the school an irrigation unit, and the Rangeley Fire Department has lent hundreds of feet of fire hose. In addition to watering the new grass, irrigation spray apparently deters the flocks of Canada geese that plague the town.

Brown said the field behind the town office, originally planned for soccer home games, has become too soggy and muddy from summer rains to be safely used. He and others have been searching the area for flat meadows large enough to use; meanwhile, Rangeley-hosted soccer games are being held at Mt. Abram with middle school games going to Phillips. Brown also noted that the gym floor was not refinished over the summer as originally planned, and because of fumes, it is not advisable to do it during the school year.

The board granted approval for varsity soccer teams to travel to Vinalhaven for an overnight visit for varsity games at Vinalhaven Community School. The trip is scheduled for Oct. 17 and 18, with school bus transportation to the Vinalhaven Ferry for the trip to the island.

Approximately 25 to 30 students will take part, and the trip is wholly funded in the athletics budget.

Student Representative Jake Farmer also predicted a great year and said the student council has met and is discussing choices of a school mascot, with the loon and the otter, among others, being popular in the discussion.

Steve Dudley of the Finance Committee reported that the bills for the new portable building and the soccer field refit have been paid off. 

Ginny Nuttall of the Facilities Committee reported that of the four architectural firms that responded to the call for submissions for the rebuild plans, Oak Point Associates of Biddeford has been chosen. The board authorized Pratt to negotiate a contract with the firm, which will be brought to the board for discussion at the next meeting.

Under new business, the board accepted first readings policies that concerned student representatives to the board, substitute teachers, report cards and progress reports, and honor roll and class standing.

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