To: RSU 74 Board of Directors
From: Amy McDaniel
Date: August 26, 2026
SUBJECT: Principal’s Board Report
1. Early Childhood & Student Orientation
Pre-K Open Houses: Pre-K Open Houses were held at both schools on August 19th. Teachers Valerie Pinkham and Jennie Mirlocca, alongside Educational Technicians Kimberly and Amy, did an outstanding job setting up their classrooms. Student and family turnout exceeded expectations, and the children were eager to explore their new learning environments.
Pre-K Practice Bus Run: A practice bus route was offered on August 25th. While the ride was somewhat lengthy because only Pre-K students were onboard, route times will shorten significantly once students transition to the regular district bus runs.
Kindergarten Open House: Kindergarten held open houses at both buildings on August 25th from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Teachers created a warm, welcoming environment for our incoming students and their families.
2. Summer Facility Improvements
Our custodial staff worked tirelessly over the summer to prepare both buildings for the return of staff and students:
Garret Schenck Elementary: Custodians successfully reorganized classroom assignments, stripped and applied a fresh coat of polyurethane to the gym floors, applied fresh paint, and installed new ceiling tiles. The building looks fantastic!
Solon Elementary: Custodial staff installed new ceiling tiles, painted classrooms, and reconfigured select spaces to better accommodate student learning needs. The gym floor was also refinished with a fresh coat of polyurethane.
3. Staff Preparation & Opening Day
Teaching & Administrative Staff: Educators in both buildings have been hard at work adding final touches to create engaging, supportive learning spaces. Meanwhile, our secretaries have been managing calls, registering new students, organizing teaching materials, and keeping operations running seamlessly.
First Day Operations: Arrival at Garret Schenck Elementary on our first student day went smoothly, thanks to the collaborative effort of our dedicated staff.