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Parent urges RSU 10 to address special education supports and school facility safety; board ratifies two fifth‑grade hires
Summary
A parent gave a lengthy public comment alleging inadequate special‑education support, water and air concerns at a middle school site, and criticized a pay raise; the board accepted two superintendent hiring recommendations and noted posting for a special‑education director for next year.
Amanda Hamner, introduced in the comment period as a Mexico resident and parent of two district students, told the board she has repeatedly raised concerns about special‑education services and building conditions. She said staff shortages and missing resources are affecting classroom instruction and that some students are not receiving required services under their IEPs. She also said she had not seen promised water‑lead testing results or air‑quality remediation and described persistent mold odors at a school building. “It is your responsibility to fix it and hold our superintendent accountable for that,” Hamner said.
Why it matters: Public comments put the board on notice about parental concerns regarding special‑education implementation and school facility condition. Administrators responded in subsequent agenda items by saying a posting for a special‑education director for the coming year has been made, and the superintendent said the district is hiring that role to begin July 1. The district also described ongoing efforts to complete fire‑drill scheduling and to run building safety walkthroughs; staff said a fire‑drill with the fire marshal’s replacement was expected in the near term.
During routine business the board accepted two personnel recommendations from the superintendent: Tracy Morin was appointed a fifth‑grade teacher at IES for the remainder of the school year; Mary Malcheski was appointed a fifth‑grade teacher at RAS for the 2024–25 school year (one‑year appointment). Both motions were made by Peter and seconded (the transcript records Chad seconding Morin; Chad seconded Malcheski) and the board approved both by voice vote.
The superintendent told the board the district had received a Title I comparability letter from the state indicating RSU 10 had met comparability indicators for Title I allocations. The superintendent also announced that Tammy Bridal, one of the district psychologists, had been named the Association of Maine School Psychologists’ practitioner of the year.
The board also accepted the resignation of long‑time board member Janet Brennick, who served seven years; administrators noted a vacancy exists for the Region 9 board seat and asked residents from the district region to consider applying.
Ending: Administrators said the district is posting for a special‑education director to begin July 1 and that facilities and safety follow‑ups (including fire‑drill scheduling and water/air testing) remain on the district’s checklist. The board approved the personnel actions listed in the meeting packet by voice vote.
