FARMINGTON — Superintendent Christian Elkington told directors of Regional School Unit 9 on Tuesday that nearly all teaching positions are filled, however there are no applicants for a few Mt. Blue Middle School openings.

He highlighted progress in filling teaching positions but noted challenges in special education staffing.

“We are pretty close to having all our teacher positions filled,” he said. “However, special education will be down, and we have no applicants for a couple of positions at the middle school.”

The district may need to rely on substitutes to cover these roles, he said.

Elkington also said the new Fire/Emergency Management Services position at the Foster Career & Technical Education Center might be canceled if a suitable candidate is not found. There have been 14 new hires, five transfers and three resignations.

One of the notable new hires, according to Director of Special Education Cynthia Bernstein, is a day treatment teacher for the middle school. “She is fantastic,” Bernstein said, praising the new hire’s contribution to case management alongside other staff members while they continue to seek candidates for other positions.

Bernstein provided an update on the special education program. She showcased tools such as a visual schedule, which helps younger students understand their daily routines and anticipate what comes next. She explained the role of Individualized Education Plans, which are tailored to each student’s specific needs and include components such as setting up annual or triennial meetings with parents, writing the IEP and monitoring progress.

“All students who receive special education programming also have an individualized education plan,” Bernstein said. “IEPs include contact with parents, writing the written notice of decisions made at IEP meetings, and tracking progress throughout the quarter.”

Bernstein addressed concerns about the district’s higher-than-average rates of autism, emotional disabilities, and intellectual disabilities compared to state averages. “In my opinion, they are significant, particularly in the area of autism,” she said. RSU 9 has expanded its autism programming to meet these needs, she said, noting some students identified with autism may not require an IEP.

Responding to questions about the speed of the assessment process for special education services, Bernstein affirmed that evaluations are conducted within a 45-school-day timeline. “We go as quickly as we can,” she said.

She was also asked if families are moving to the district specifically for its special education programs. While she did not have current data, she expressed interest in tracking this information to identify any trends.

A significant portion of the meeting focused on ongoing issues with the gym floor at the Mt. Blue Campus. Elkington said the floor was installed with a faulty product last year, leading to extensive wear and damage. “The company told us it was faulty product in spring. They will come in and take it off at no cost,” he said.

Concerns remain about the subfloor, which will be examined later this week. “It is concerning,” Elkington added. “The one good thing, we can still use the bleachers.”

The superintendent also discussed the recent water leak at the middle school, which has caused additional damage. “When we discovered the water leak at Mt. Blue Middle School, people immediately came in on a Sunday,” he said, praising the team for their swift response and cleanup efforts. He highlighted the district’s commitment to addressing issues promptly, saying, “That’s the RSU 9 way.”

Elkington concluded the meeting by discussing potential collaboration with the University of Maine at Farmington, particularly in light of UMF’s plans to sell some properties. He noted that housing remains an issue and suggested exploring ways to work together.