Superintendent Jake Langland told the school committee he found no evidence immigration officers operated on school grounds and described internal communications, attendance analysis, steps to protect students, and limits on district financial support; he said to his knowledge no students were picked up by enforcement in the last two weeks.
The committee unanimously approved a field trip request for 17 Lewiston High students to attend the national mock-trial competition in Des Moines May 5–10. The team has raised roughly $20,000 of an estimated $26,000 total; coaches requested the committee consider a $6,000 gap.
A proposal to add Latin honors (cum laude/magna/summa) at Lewiston High was presented; a preliminary run showed roughly 29% of the class would qualify. The administration said honors could be noted on transcripts and graduation this year if the committee supports it.
The Lewiston School Committee selected Phoenix McLaughlin as its 2026 chair in a unanimous roll-call vote after nominations and brief candidate remarks. Member Janet Bowden withdrew her nomination, citing partisan dynamics.
After nearly an hour of public comment — much of it from high-school and middle-school students — the Lewiston Public Schools committee voted unanimously to approve the second reading of three policies (patriotic exercise, flag displays, and student dress), keeping current practices in place.
Lewiston Public Schools HR director Susanna Gallant walked the committee through the district's multi-step hiring process and said LPS does not routinely search applicants online but will investigate credible concerns; committee members pressed for clearer thresholds and suggested state-level reporting changes.
RHR Smith issued an unmodified (clean) opinion on the Lewiston Public Schools FY25 financial statements, reporting total assets near $24 million and a $14.5 million fund balance; the auditor highlighted transportation overspending and recommended monitoring the school-nutrition budget as federal COVID-era supports phase down.
At its Jan. 5 meeting the Lewiston School Committee administered oaths to four newly elected members and selected Janet Bowden as chair pro tempore for the evening; the committee reviewed routine items and set public comment rules while Ward 5 remained vacant.
A Lewiston resident told the school committee she witnessed a prior flag vote she believes was miscounted and asked the body to 'redo the flag vote' once the full committee is seated; no formal committee action to reopen the vote was recorded.
The Lewiston School Committee unanimously approved a field trip for Lewiston Regional Technical Center students to attend the Wasabi Bowl at Fenway Park on Dec. 27 and highlighted instructor Daniel Thompson’s recognition on the Wasabi Bowl educator honor roll; the program will cover transportation, tickets and meals at no cost to students.
