Superintendent reports: ESY set for July, principal resignation announced, nutrition and attendance highlights

Superintendent Scarrappa used the March 26 RSU 5 board meeting to highlight spring and summer operational items and personnel updates, including the district's extended school year schedule and a principal resignation.

The extended school year (ESY) program for special-education students is scheduled to run July 7 to July 30, Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 11:11 a.m., the superintendent said. Families and interested staff were directed to apply online or contact Alicia Morris, director of instructional support, for details.

On personnel, the superintendent announced the hiring of Alicia Bennett as a new bus driver and thanked transportation staff for recent work moving students safely during challenging weather. The superintendent also announced the resignation of Amy St. Pierre, principal of Freeport Middle School.

The superintendent's report included brief school highlights: two visiting students from Tanzania met with the high school community, a Mass Landing student (Elliot Anderson) was chosen for a statewide art showcase at the Portland Museum of Art, and a high-school food drive runs through April 11 with a request for diapers sizes 3—, canned soup and pet food.

School nutrition director Erica Malelli conducted a student lunch focus group and collaborated with the Maine Coast Fishermen's Association to introduce fish tasting across district schools; the district recorded a chronic absenteeism rate of 5.5 percent at Mass Landing staff and families were credited for improvements. The superintendent encouraged interested applicants for summer ESY employment and thanked staff for ongoing work.