April 24, 2024
To: RSU #74 Board of Directors
From: Mark L. Campbell, Superintendent of Schools
Re: May Board Report
I have had a meeting with the Select Boards in Solon and Anson. I had questions from both Boards on our needs and solutions. I remind you that the New Portland meeting is May 7 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting in Embden was moved to May 9th at 6:15 p.m.
During the early release time in April, K-5 teachers began the process for documenting their English Language Arts Curriculum. Most of the work was completed as the three teachers at each grade level worked together to accomplish the task. It is my hope that the English Curriculum will be documented in its entirety for the May 15th Academic Committee meeting. Once this piece is done and approved, we will begin sharing the document on our website for the community to be able to see what work is expected at each grade level. The work remaining for the teachers will be to look at their assessment instruments for each unit to be sure the assessments are asking the students to produce/perform at the same level of Bloom’s Taxonomy that the Performance Indicator is expecting.
The district is sending Bruce Dostie and Chris Roux to do ALICE (Alert - Lockdown - Inform - Confronting - Evacuate) training. This training is a training on the ways to respond to an agitated intruder to our buildings. When they complete this two day training, Bruce and Chris will be able to train our staff members. The two gentlemen were asked, as they both have law enforcement backgrounds. Bruce will bring classroom teacher experience, and Chris has knowledge of the individual buildings to bring to the table as they educate our staff members on ALICE. We will continue to work with the Somerset Sheriff’s Office with our ALICE training of staff and students.
I have included with my Board report this month a page of a monthly newsletter I received that highlights a great example of the work done in the classrooms around the district. I commend Jasmyn Wagg, a GSS Stem Teacher, for helping bring this activity through the Challenger Learning Center to our students.
Under appointments we have two coaches to make you aware of. I would expect that Mr. Carey has included a brief statement on the two coaches in his report.
Under resignations, we did receive a resignation from Michael Golden as the CCS grade 5 teacher. We thank Mike for his commitment to the students of RSU #74 and wish Mike the best going forward. We also received a resignation from Joey Knox from his maintenance position. We also thank Joey for his work to make sure our grounds and buildings were ready each day to welcome in the staff and students and wish him well in his future endeavors. Lastly, I received a resignation from Erik Carey as the MS/HS athletic director. The job has undefined hours. I thank Erik for taking on the challenges of balancing his classroom duties, which I often walk in on to see some pretty cool learning with the time involved in being an AD.
Under nominations, I am requesting a motion of support for the selection of Veronica Carrigan to be the custodian at Solon Elementary. Veronica, a Carrabec Alumnus, has served several years in a similar role at Maplecrest Nursing Home in Madison. This is a 6 hour position where salary is governed by the Agreement with the Board and the Association.
Action Items:
Action Item 6: Asking for approval of the Second reading of Policy JFABD, Admission of Homeless Students. As I shared last month, this policy was recommended through an audit called for by the MDOE on our McKinney - Vento protocols.
Action Item 7: Asking for your approval for the 2024-2025 RSU 74 Board Meeting dates. I show July as “as needed.”
Action Item 8: Asking for your approval for these staff members who have worked their probationary periods and have received evaluations that support their movement from probationary to continuing contracts.
Action Item 9: Asking for your approval for these staff members to move from year 1 to year 2 probationary period as their evaluations would support.
Action Item 10: Asking your approval of an overnight trip by the Carrabec Outing Club to Flagstaff to paddle a section of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail during the week of June 10 - June 14. The trip will be 3 days and 2 nights. Waiting for the final word from Teens to Trails on exactly which days.
Action Item 11: Asking for support of the nomination of Geoffrey Case as the principal for Carrabec Community School for the 2024-2025 school year. The interviews were conducted by 3 members of the Board and 2 administrators. Mr. Case has served the last two years as the Dean of Students at the Atwood Primary School in RSU #18. Originally from Kansas, Geoff earned his Bachelors from Wichita State and his Masters from Thomas College. Geoff’s 11 years in the classroom were across the grade 1 thru grade 5 span. His references spoke highly of his energy level, his ability to build relationships with students, parents and staff, and his willingness to step out of his comfort to grow as necessary to create a better environment for the learning community. It came across in his interview and through his references that he believes in the value student data has on school improvement, instructional improvement, and improvements with attendance. He does understand that this is a process to move to data driven decisions but believes in the outcomes it will produce. His experiences will provide a base for his approach to leading the school but his mindset for growth will allow him to successfully move the building forward. Geoff, his wife and adolescent daughter currently reside in Waterville. While originally from away, their love for Maine and what it has to offer will keep them here according to Geoff. I shared spreadsheets with salaries for area administrators, and as I have shared previously and budgeted accordingly, this position with a school with the highest number of student population is currently under paid. My recommendation for Mr. Case for the 2024-2025 school year is a 1 year contract with the same administrative language as the other district administrators with a salary of $89,500. Mr. Case would begin July 1, 2024.
Action Item 12: Motion to sign the warrants for the FY 25 RSU 74 School budget.