Culture

Back-to-School Memo

To: MSAD 15 Community
From: Craig King, Superintendent
Date: August 2, 2022
Re: Back-to-School

I hope you and your families have been enjoying our beautiful Maine summer. Now that we are in the month of August, we are obliged to start thinking about the new school year. This letter will provide the information you need to help plan for the first day of school.

Summer Programs and Projects. The school district has done a great deal of work this summer. All of these programs and projects were paid for in part or in full with state and federal grants:

  • Approximately 200 students in our five schools participated in summer school. For the first time, the three elementary schools added an arts component to summer programming.
  • Work is being completed on our new outdoor classrooms.
  • Electronic access control systems, designed to manage entrance into buildings are being installed in all five schools.
  • Installation of a HVAC air quality system is underway at the high school and will be completed in early autumn. This system will provide direct fresh air ventilation for every classroom.
  • Completion of drinking water lead inspection and abatement in all five schools.
  • New kitchen equipment is being installed this summer and will continue into next fall.

2022-24 Projects and Priorities:

  • To develop and implement a Grades 5-12 Advisory program with a well-defined curriculum to support student academics, citizenship, and personal goal setting.
  • To complete the construction of the outdoor classrooms located on each school campus.
  • To develop and implement a framework and instructional strategies for K-12 Digital Citizenship.
  • To develop and implement a framework that helps educators provide educational and behavioral strategies for students, whatever their needs (known as Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports).
  • To refine and improve Grades 5-12 Response to Intervention (RTI) process to ensure students who require academic intervention receive it through the regular classroom teacher or through the RTI specialist.
  • To complete the installation of the new electronic access control systems at all five schools.
  • To complete a review of the K-12 Mathematics curriculum. To evaluate and pilot potential new Mathematics program.
  • To reconvene the school board bond committee to consider improved performing arts and athletic facilities.
  • To engage students, families, and instructional staff in a comprehensive review of Policy JFCK: Student Use of Cellular Phones and Other Electronic Devices

School Start and End Times

High School/Middle SchoolStart: 7:40 a.m. Students may begin
arriving at 7:20 a.m.
End: 2:00 p.m.
Dunn SchoolStart: 8:40 a.m.Students may begin arriving at 8:20 a.m.End: 3:00 p.m.
Memorial/Russell SchoolStart: 9:00 a.m. Students may begin arriving at 8:40 a.m.End: 3:20 p.m.

First Student Day of School:

  • All Memorial School, Dunn School, and Russell School students will have their first day on Wednesday, August 31, 2022.
  • Kindergarten orientation and student/parent bus ride will be on Wednesday, August 31, 2022.
  • Pre-K (Dunn School) will have their first day on September 6, 2022.
  • Grades 5 and Grade 9 (Freshmen) will have their first day of school on Wednesday, August 31, 2022, to welcome students and provide orientation in their new schools.
  • Grades 6, 7, and 8 will have their first day of school on Thursday, September 1, 2022.
  • Grades 10 (Sophomores), 11 (Juniors), and 12 (Seniors) will have their first day of school on Thursday, September 1, 2022.

Transportation. MSAD 15 and school districts across Maine and the nation continue to struggle with a bus driver shortage. Our school district should optimally have 14 or 15 full-time bus drivers to meet our busing transportation needs. We currently have ten. We had two bus drivers retire at the end of June. We have been able to hire two trained, licensed bus drivers to replace the two retirees. We have not had a “net gain” of new bus drivers for 2022-23.

We continue to recruit drivers who hold commercial bus driver’s licenses. We also recruit and offer support to potential drivers who want to obtain a commercial bus driver’s license and work for MSAD 15. If you are interested in driving a bus for MSAD 15 or know someone who is, don’t hesitate to contact dboucher@sad15.org or mbowden@sad15.org Bus driver contracts come with a competitive wage, health insurance, dental insurance, matching retirement contributions, and other benefits.

Unfortunately, we do not have enough bus drivers to provide transportation to every student who needs or wants bus transportation. Last school year, many parents generously offered to transport their students to school rather than take the bus. We ask families who are able to continue transporting their students this year; we appreciate your willingness to help the school district with this challenging problem. Fortunately, we can provide van transportation services to 100% of our students who require van transportation services.

Power School Student Data Update. Please update all your PowerSchool information now to ensure we have the correct information for bus pick up and drop off, mailing addresses, emergency contact information, and other important student/family information. Bus routes are being created now and accurate information is needed. If you have forgotten your PowerSchool password, the school secretary can help.

Nutrition. All MSAD 15 students are eligible for free breakfast and lunch through the school nutrition program. Nevertheless, we still need to have each eligible family fill out a Free and Reduced application. This data is used to help the district obtain state and federal grant dollars to support our schools. Application form link: https://www.nlappscloud.com/Welcome.aspx?api=f0f158e0edf423ee3c578705362403cb#loade

Adult Education. All 2020-2023 HiSET and Adult High School Diploma graduates are eligible for two years of free community college and multiple short-term training programs. The MSAD 15 Adult Education staff is able to assist those who are interested to access this opportunity. Contact: 207-657-9612 or Tboynton@sad15.org

High School Fall Sports will begin on Monday, August 15th, for all sports in grades 9-12. The high school offers Cheering, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Girls Soccer, Boys Soccer, and Girls Volleyball. Susan Robbins, Athletic Director, will host an informational session in the high school cafetorium on Monday, August 15th, at 6:00 p.m. The coaches will meet with families immediately after for individual team presentations of expectations for the season.

Middle School Fall Sports will begin on Tuesday, September 6th. The Middle School will offer Cross Country and Field Hockey for grades 6-8. Football, Girls Soccer, and Boys Soccer for grades 7-8. Susan Robbins, Athletic Director will host an informational session on Monday, August 29th at 5:30 p.m. in the Middle School Cafeteria. Middle School Athletic Liaison, Dana Welch will also attend this informational meeting. The coaches will meet with families immediately after for individual team presentations of expectations for the season.

Early in the school year, more information will be available for middle school students interested in the less formal intramural program. This program is designed for students not participating in formalized interscholastic team sports but are interested in after school physical activities. The intramural program will offer open gym, cycling, dodge ball, Libby Hill Trail hikes, and other physical activities.

COVID-19. The Maine Department of Education (MDOE) will no longer be providing guidance on COVID-19 mitigation. The MDOE has directed schools to return to protocols for communicable diseases that were in place prior to the pandemic. The school nurse is the primary resource for families regarding all communicable disease protocols. Although Maine schools will not be enforcing Maine Center for Disease COVID-19 guidelines, families can find specific recommendations at: https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/airborne/documents/COVID-19-Isolation-Flow-Chart.pdf

and

https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/airborne/documents/COVID-19-Quarantine-Flow-Chart.pdf

As always, students and employees are encouraged to stay home when sick.

Employment Opportunities

MSAD 15 has many employment opportunities including nutrition services, transportation services, Educational Technicians (Ed. Tech.), Short and Long-Term Substitutes, Teaching Positions, and Coaching. Permanent positions are supported by competitive salary and wages, health insurance, dental insurance, retirement benefits, and other contract benefits.

If you or someone you know is looking for employment, please refer to the MSAD 15 employment web page to find job postings and electronic applications: https://msad15.org/employment/

I hope you and your family enjoy the remainder of the summer. Everyone at MSAD 15 looks forward to the return of all our students in anticipation of a successful new school year.