Committee approves one‑year Foster Grandparent Program MOU; director outlines recruitment and safeguards

The Cumberland School Committee voted unanimously Oct. 9 to approve a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Foster Grandparent Program, limited to one year at the committee’s request.

Melissa DeSalt, identified as director of the Foster Grandparent Program, explained the program places adults age 55 and older in schools as classroom volunteers and mentors. DeSalt said volunteers are recruited from within roughly a three‑mile radius of the placement school, undergo multiple interviews, federal background checks and fingerprinting, and receive orientation and periodic site visits. DeSalt said the program provides a small stipend (she stated $4 per hour) for travel and is federally funded; the program handles background checks and paperwork at no cost to the district.

Committee members asked about recruitment, connections with local senior centers, stipend and time commitment. DeSalt said volunteers must typically commit at least 15 hours per week and that the program can make exceptions for long‑standing volunteers. She said the MOU can be canceled by a school at any time if the placement does not work and that the program will reassign volunteers if personalities do not match a classroom.

After questions, a committee member moved to approve the MOU with a one‑year limit; Miss Smith made the motion, Miss Goldstein seconded, and the committee approved the arrangement 6–0.

Clarifying details recorded during the meeting: DeSalt said the program currently has 35 volunteers across 20 school locations statewide; volunteers must be at least 55 years old and meet income guidelines; the stipend is federally funded and the program conducts fingerprinting and criminal background checks through the attorney general’s office. The MOU is federally funded and described as at no direct cost to the district.