West Paris resident James Marshall addresses the Oxford Hills School District directors Monday evening at the Central Office in Paris. He challenged their position that Agnes Gray Elementary School should be closed because it is “‘unnecessary.'”  Nicole Carter/Advertiser Democrat

PARIS — Behavioral problems among students in the lowest and highest grades has prompted Maine School Administrative District 17 to implement more staff training and student supports, Superintendent Heather Manchester told directors Monday night.

Manchester talked about immediate and long-term measures, as well as proactive intervention plans, which are being prepared for the next school year. Resources are being put in place to address the current environment, including assigning teachers as hall monitors at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School in Paris.

Principals for Harrison, Waterford and Paris elementary schools reported on their strategies to help students struggling with behaviors.

Margaret Emery, principal at Harrison and Waterford, said her team is focusing on Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports work toward students who need extra support and reinforcement of positive behaviors.

At Paris Elementary, Principal Lori Pacholski said staff is integrating the Building Assets, Reducing Risks with Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports, which has helped engage children without someone at school who they trust.

Emery and Pacholski both noted that meeting attendance goals for their schools has been challenging because reported illness has increased and transportation issues account for a number of student absences.

At Harrison Elementary School, Emery said an initial look at fall and winter Star assessments — short tests that provide teachers with learning data — have shown promising improvements, especially among fourth grade students.

Manchester also informed directors that the Oxford Hills School District has contracted with Cheryl Lang to support Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports. In the past, Lang worked at SAD 17 as a literacy coach and teacher at Oxford Hills Middle School, and at MSAD 44 in Bethel in administrative roles, before joining the Maine Department of Education as a federal programs director for elementary and secondary education.

In other business

Manchester said her administration is ready to implement the $500,000 Community Oriented Policing grant that will enable the district to install notification and security upgrades in school buildings, including more secure entries at Oxford Hills Middle School, the high school and Guy E. Rowe Elementary School in Norway. A new fire panel system will be installed at the high school and IT security improvements at the Central Office in Paris.

During the public comment period, two residents of West Paris reminded the board that it has been one year since Agnes Gray Elementary School was closed.

James Marshall noted that on Jan. 31, 2024, West Paris celebrated Family Night at Agnes Gray but one week later the school was closed, being deemed unsafe.

In October 2024 the school board voted to close it permanently and authorized Manchester to file its intent with the Maine Department of Education.

“I’d like to point out that West Paris has more students than Waterford,” Marshall said. “It has more elementary students than Hebron or Harrison. Yet you put it as unnecessary. West Paris needs a school. West Paris would like to have a school as it has had for the last 127 years.”

Donna DiConzo said, “It’s not just a building, it’s so much more than that. It’s the very heartbeat of our town, and closing it was cruel.”