SAD 63 SCHOOL BOARD MEETING SEPTEMBER 27

Board Attendees: Don Varnum, Rep. from Holden; Jessica Gray, Rep. from Clifton; Mario Tiesl, Rep. from Holden; Therese Anderson, Rep. from Eddington and President of the Board; Christopher Doering, new Rep. from Holden; Karen Clark, Rep. from Eddington; and Pam Dorr, Rep. from Eddington. Absent: Kevin Mills, Rep. from Holden.

It was an interesting and well attended meeting Monday night at the Holbrook School. Since this writer hadn't been to any meetings since the close of last year (and the budget hearings), it was nice to see so many members of the public in attendance in addition to the school principals and district department managers. Of course there wasn't the number of parents who were at the Budget and Finance Committee meetings last spring. Which was too bad because the Board is already talking about next year's budget - cuts, the possibility of moving next year's 4th grade to the Holbrook School and the various impacts to other operations that will impose (food, transportation, etc.)

It was pointed out that the trailing class (this year's second grades in both Holden and Eddington) are large classes. The only reason the plan is being considered for moving what will be the incoming 4th grade to Holbrook in the Fall of 2011 is because the current 3rd grade classes at Holden and Eddington are small.

Question: Is it wise to made all the cost adjustments and school operation changes for fiscal year 2010-2011 (associated with moving the 4th graders to Holbrook School in the Fall of 2011) when the Fall of 2012 4th graders may need to be moved back to Holden and Eddington Schools because the number of students will be too large to be accommodated at Holbrook?

Granted, Mario Teisl stated they are only beginning to look at the issue because the Board understands it is/will be complicated. And Board President Anderson stated there are many months before next years budget has to be finalized. But - the more time people can take to look at any and all issues, the better the chance the outcome will be better. As Anderson pointed out, the districts never find out from the State what amount we will/won't be able to depend on the state to be paying. Better we should be taking the leadership role - and sooner rather than later.

Parents who have a vested interest in the operations of the school district would be wise to attend the monthly School Board meetings to stay abreast of issues being raised and discussed. Waiting until April and May of each year is asking to be behind the eight-ball.

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It was discussed and decided to send out a Brochure from the SAD 63 district to all voters announcing a Public Hearing to present the proposed AOS (Alternative Organized Structure) which will appear on the November 2, 2010 ballot. The Public Hearing will be held at the Holbrook School on October 19, 2010 at 7:00 P.M. SAD 63 voters unable to attend that meeting could attend the Public Hearing that will be conducted by CSD 8 - although this writer has no information regarding the date or location of that meeting. It is suggested anyone interested contact Superintendent Dave Anderson at the Holden School to request information if needed.

The AOS is an alternative option to a consolidated school structure and is allowed by the state legislature. Under the proposed AOS plan, SAD 63 will have one "partner," - the Airline District, otherwise known as CSD 8, with which SAD 63 has shared various central services (business services and superintendent services) since 1987. Under the AOS structure, both districts would continue to have separate School Boards and separate school budgets. One significant benefit to the approval of the AOS structure would be the elimination of the state imposed tax penalty which cost SAD 63 towns $180,000 this year (money which the taxpayers in Eddington, Clifton and Holden had to make up through increased property taxes).

The Public Hearing on October 19 will outline more details of how the AOS would work IF APPROVED BY THE VOTERS IN ALL OF THE TOWNS INVOLVED (meaning all of the towns that are under SAD 63 AND CSD 8). Unless all of the towns approve the AOS, we go back to Square 1 AND the tax penalty next year, too.

The referendum will be on the November 2 ballot in all of the required towns.

It should be noted that at the meeting, this writer provided print-outs of the two postings from October 26 & 27 to the three SAD 63 school principals/SAD 63 superintendent. In the course of which I learned that one of the principals had been reading the October 26 posting. I was advised that there were more recent test scores. Once this writer obtains that information, it will be posted here.

Related to the subject, it was encouraging to see there will be a SAD 63 Board Curriculum Committee meeting in October. Until parents and taxpayers see 4th and 8th grade Reading and Math scores in the 80 percent passing range, this writer doesn't think anyone (anyone - meaning teachers, Board members, parents or students) should be bragging about the wonderful level of education our students are receiving.

At the same time, perhaps the Curriculum Committee should consider finding a way to include a method of verifying parents are fulfilling their responsibilities as well.

Education is not limited to the classroom. Parents are responsible as well - providing a place at home where homework can be done without distraction (television, arguing parents, loud music, etc.); sufficient sleep and rest; a schedule for dinner, relaxation, play and study; and parent supervision, review and verification that homework has been done. One has to wonder, for those students who are not passing the standard tests - are they receiving the support they need at home? Are they too tired to pay attention to be able to learn at school?

On the other hand, what standards are being utilized in the schools to verify that the teachers being employed are able to teach? Who is reviewing their performance and evaluating their success rate?

Consider this: 60-70% equals a D grade. 70-80% equals a C grade; 80-90% equals a B grade; and 90-100% equals and A. Any score below 60% equals an F/failure.

Now go back and look at the 4th and 8the grade Reading and Math scores posted for our three schools for 2009-2009 as shown on Educationnation (posted October 26 & 27 on this blog site). Then look at our school district budget/tax bills. What do you think?