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Board approves hires, personnel moves and first readings of updated internet and staff-gift policies
Summary
The Winthrop School Board advanced several personnel recommendations and approved first readings of revised internet/computer use rules and a higher nominal gift limit for staff; it also approved an overnight cross-country trip and entered executive session to review the superintendent's evaluation.
The Winthrop School Board approved a series of personnel and policy actions at its meeting. The board advanced first-year probationary teachers to subsequent probationary years and granted continuing contracts to second-year probationary teachers. The board also unanimously approved employing Kim Gurney as the district's special education director for the 2026-27 school year following a unanimous hiring-committee recommendation. Gurney thanked the board and said she was honored to accept the role.
On policy matters, the board approved for first reading an updated IJNDB policy (Student Computer and Internet Use) and its rules (IJNDB-R). Megan White, director of teaching and learning, told the board these changes overhaul a 2012 policy to shift emphasis from —internet safety' to clear expectations for student device and network use, add laptop-specific rules (including parental responsibilities and potential referral to law enforcement for illegal activity), and move network-etiquette guidance into handbooks rather than policy. The board also approved a revised staff gifts policy (GBI) increasing the nominal allowable gift value to $100 from a prior $50 threshold.
The athletic department's overnight cross-country trip to Camp Kawanhee in Weld, Maine, was approved for Aug. 20-21, 2026; coach Mr. Van Tassel described the trip as a longstanding team-building tradition. Following regular business, the board voted unanimously to enter executive session to review the superintendent's evaluation under 1 MRSA 4056A.
What was decided: Personnel promotions and contracts were approved; one hiring decision was made; first readings of updated student technology and staff-gift policies were approved; an overnight athletic trip was approved; and the board entered executive session for a personnel evaluation. Implementation tasks include human-resources processing for the hire and administrative follow-up on the trip permissions and policy committee review of first-reading items.
