BETHEL — The SAD 44 board passed a resolution last week requesting that a 2009 law that calls for collecting student Social Security numbers be repealed.

Superintendent David Murphy said board Chairman Sidney Pew drafted the resolution that will be forwarded to other districts in the state.

According to the law, LD 1356, the collection of Social Security numbers would allow for the evaluation of the effectiveness of educational programs as related to postsecondary and labor market outcomes.

Pew’s resolution said that such collection opens up the possibility of breaches in the information that could adversely affect housing, employment or credit in the future. He cited a breach in 2006 when a disk containing 26.5 million Social Security numbers was stolen.

“As a board, we must ask parents to refrain from handing over children’s Social Security numbers. Attaching a child’s Social Security number to their achievement and other information is a violation of their privacy,” he wrote in the resolution.

The resolution will also be forwarded to Maine School Management.

In other matters, the board approved a reorganization of its members so that all positions begin July 1.

In the past, some of the district’s five towns held town elections in March, with the winners taking their seats immediately. Now, Murphy said, all newly elected or re-elected members will begin their terms at the same time.

The board also:

— awarded the contract for completing the fencing around Crescent Park Elementary School to Quality Fence of Rumford at a cost of $20,695. Murphy said this is the final section of fencing that was begun several years ago.

— approved 3 percent salary increases to the technology director, special education director, transportation director and teaching principal stipends.

— appointed transportation Director Ron Deegan to the new position of safety director for the district. In lieu of additional money, Deegan will receive 20 additional vacation days.

— took another step toward improving performance by Telstar Middle School students by applying for a Title I program that would serve all students, rather than only designated students. A Title I program provides additional assistance in reading and mathematics.

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