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Millinocket educators ask board to add regular "voice of the educator" report as ESSER allotment drops
Summary
Heather Oak, MEA president, requested a recurring "voice of the educator" report at school board meetings to improve communication; district staff said the ESSER allotment decreased this year and invited input on allowable uses including technology and staff costs.
Heather Oak, president of the MEA and a Millinocket resident, asked the Millinocket School Board on July 15 to add a brief, recurring "voice of the educator" report to regular agendas so teachers and school employees can communicate directly with the board.
"We would like to offer a brief voice of the educator report at schoolboard meetings moving forward," Oak said, adding that regular updates would help surface issues early, support educator morale and improve understanding of contracts and policies.
The request came during the public-comment portion of the meeting. Board members and staff responded with questions about the conference Oak had attended and discussed how such a report might fit into meeting timeframes.
In a related presentation, Miss Mary, the district staff member coordinating federal grants, summarized requirements and timing for ESSER funding under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. She said the FY26 application opened July 1 and is due Aug. 1 and described permissible uses, including salaries and benefits for staff working in Title programs, technology replacement, family engagement and social-emotional learning.
"This year it went down to $286,226.08," Miss Mary said of the district's ESSER allotment, noting it had been about $323,467.64 in 2021. She said changes in local demographics and property valuations drive allocations and that staff must follow federal program rules when proposing uses.
Board members discussed using ESSER funds for a tiered technology replacement plan rather than a single large purchase; staff noted recent purchases of iPads for kindergarten through second grade and Chromebooks for grades three and four. Miss Mary invited public and board input about spending priorities within the program's allowed categories.
The board did not take formal action on Oak's request during the meeting. The board's next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 12, 2025, where the item could be placed on a future agenda if requested formally.
