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RSU 23 board accepts minutes, hears superintendent updates and school reports; auditors’ presentation postponed
Summary
At its Jan. 12 meeting, RSU 23 trustees accepted minutes, heard Superintendent Lloyd Crocker’s update on educator-evaluation plans and state assessment changes, received school and committee reports across the district, and postponed the in-person auditors’ presentation; the board adjourned at 7:38 p.m.
Chairperson Carol Marcotte called the RSU 23 board to order at 6:03 p.m. on Jan. 12 at Old Orchard Beach Town Hall and the board approved minutes from Dec. 8 and Dec. 15, 2015, by unanimous vote (motion by Michelle Violette, seconded by Stuart Hogan).
Superintendent Lloyd Crocker updated trustees on the district’s teacher- and principal-evaluation pilot (PE/PG): teachers used SMART goals in the first semester and will use Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) in the second semester as the district’s steering committee finalizes which measure to adopt. Crocker reviewed the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), signed Dec. 10, 2015, saying ESSA maintains testing in reading and math for grades 3–8 and once in high school but shifts accountability and intervention decisions toward states and districts. He also reported the Maine Department of Education contracted Measured Progress to develop and administer the 2016 online ELA/literacy and math assessments for grades 3–8 (initial contract noted at $4.14 million) and that the SAT will remain paper-based for 2016 with an anticipated move to computer delivery in 2017.
The auditors’ in-person presentation by Roger Lebreux of Runyon Kersteen Ouellette did not take place because he was not present; the minutes note the district webcast and the auditor’s material are available on the town website.
Principals and staff delivered school reports: Barbara Fletcher (Jameson) described ongoing PreK–8 curriculum mapping, K–8 math collaboration, PLC work and plans to train special-education technicians on iPad-based data tools; George Shabo (Loranger Memorial) reported a new gaming club for grades 6–8, staff STAR recognition and that a fundraiser for the Dyer family raised $3,300. Mike Flaherty outlined plans for internet-safety presentations led by Cpl. Jamie Ladakakos (Old Orchard Beach Police Department) and SRO Lucas Porter and reported that three eighth-graders have been placed in the Pathways Alternative Education program (Pathways does not require an IEP; TIDES does).
Old Orchard Beach High School administration told trustees that a NEASC visitation occurred Nov. 16 and that the school is emphasizing restorative-discipline practices. John Suttie reported a decline in lost student days to out-of-school suspension—"174 student days were previously lost to out of school suspension; last school year only six days were lost," he said—and that so far this school year there have been no out-of-school suspensions. Eric Hanson outlined cross-grade curriculum work and shared use of schoolwide analytic rubrics.
Committee updates included facilities work and a Jan. 25 meeting to finalize public-facing reports (Peter Flaherty); policy work on OOBHS graduation standards and a potential senior internship (Mike Flaherty); an Adult Education report showing roughly 700 learners served (a 15% increase), a 34% increase in Old Orchard Beach resident participation and a 33% rise in revenue, plus a USDA grant to fund videoconferencing equipment (Dave Durkee); stipend-review committee planning to take formal action Jan. 28; and active strategic-planning meetings with draft objectives to be reviewed publicly before the board acts.
Superintendent Crocker asked each board member to visit a school and share impressions at the next meeting. A motion by David Boudreau, seconded by Peter Flaherty, to adjourn was approved unanimously at 7:38 p.m.
The minutes were prepared by transcriber Pam Ouellette and signed by Superintendent Lloyd Crocker.
