Superintendent: smooth start to year, mold remediation and additional staffing among early priorities

Superintendent Lloyd Crocker told the RSU 23 board Sept. 8 that the district's opening week proceeded "very positive and upbeat," with multiple new-staff orientations and professional-development workshops intended to set district goals and introduce restorative practices.

Crocker said new-teacher orientation on Aug. 25 included a tour of all three schools and a restorative-practices training session. Aug. 26 and 27 were district-wide workshop days that included discussion of a "Future Ready" classroom concept, curriculum assessment and staff surveys to identify priorities for the year.

Facilities and program items featured prominently. Crocker reported that teachers moved into a new modular at the middle school (LMS) and that preparation is underway to place a modular for the T.I.D.E.S. program at the high school; Jay Kelley said utility connections and site work are in progress, and delivery of the T.I.D.E.S. modular was projected for mid-month if schedules hold. Mr. O'Connor added, "T.I.D.E.S. stands for Teaching Individuals Diversity Empathy and Self-Esteem." (Mr. O'Connor's remark appears in the meeting minutes as a clarification of the program acronym.)

Crocker also described a mold issue at Jameson School: staff cut into a wall and discovered more extensive spread than first thought, sealed and restricted the room while maintenance removed affected materials, and the district plans to perform air-quality testing in the room and neighboring spaces after remediation work.

Board members and building leaders reported additional operational details: about half of high-school students had received iPads by the meeting date, roughly 25 percent of students attend the Biddeford Vocational Center with transportation adjustments required, and Loranger reported full iPad distribution for grades 6—6 and active participation in band, chorus and fall sports. Mike Flaherty and Barb Fletcher described staffing changes and open-house activity; Fletcher noted a S.T.A.R. pledge (Safe, Taking Responsibility, Accepting and Respectful) launched at Jameson.

Enrollment figures were provided in the meeting minutes as: 806 total district students for 2015—16 (179 at Jameson, 359 at LMS, 249 at OOB High School). The minutes also contain a later line indicating "Jameson—6 204 including our PreK class," a discrepancy in the record; the meeting transcript does not reconcile the differing figures. Where numbers conflict in the minutes, this account reports both figures as stated by meeting participants and flags the inconsistency for follow-up.

Transportation reported a minor glitch with VOC student routes that was resolved with an alternative plan; the Dayton route has a newly hired driver with prior experience. Building leaders also raised ongoing concerns about older playground equipment at Loranger, heat issues in parts of that building, and parking/traffic flow in the lower lot.

The board adjourned after an executive session about superintendent evaluation goals and returned with no action taken. The superintendent and facilities committee said they expect further public engagement when Harriman presents its full facilities options and when the district releases a draft strategic plan and a State of the District forum for community feedback.