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Superintendent flags attendance, reports 3,286 students enrolled and staff changes
Summary
The superintendent briefed the RSU 06 board on attendance priorities, definitions of truancy and chronic absenteeism, current enrollment (3,286 students), long-service staff recognitions and two resignations, and school-zone safety light installations.
Superintendent (name not stated in transcript) told the RSU 06 School Board that attendance will be a district focus this school year and explained both the district's truancy definition and the chronic absenteeism threshold. "Truancy... is any student who misses seven days of school in a row or a total of 10 days unexcused," the superintendent said. She added that chronic absenteeism includes excused absences and is defined as missing 10% or more of the school year—about 18 days.
The superintendent reported the district opened the school year with 3,286 students enrolled, 26 fewer than at the same time last year. She said the district has 177 student days scheduled for the year and asked families to be mindful that excused and unexcused absences accumulate.
She also described staff and program updates: the district recognized six employees at the opening convocation for long service (ranging from 35 to 46 years). Names cited in the meeting were Carol Wagner (35 years), Kathy Brooks (40), Patty Mangione (40), Karen Boucher (40), Marian Daniels (45) and Tony Perkins (46). The superintendent announced two resignations: Lenny Holmes, director of alternative education, will resign at the end of the month for personal reasons; and Cody Elliott, a physical education teacher at Buxton Center, will also resign at the end of the month to take a position closer to home. The district plans to post both positions and fill them, with the alternative education role likely posted as an interim opening for the year.
On school-zone safety, the superintendent said Standish school zone lights have been functioning and helped slow traffic; she credited Tasha Pinkham for spearheading that effort. Director Black asked about installing lights at the HBM site; the superintendent said the process typically involves the towns initiating requests and that the district will follow up with Limington to explore options and potential grants used to fund installations.
Board members offered praise for the work of departing staff. Director Carlo and Director Kratz publicly thanked Lenny Holmes and his team for the Learning Centre's growth.
