The Gorham School Committee held a Special Meeting on February 16, 2022.
Parent, Claire Minor spoke during the public comment section of the meeting about her concerns regarding the school calendar and the impact of early release days on the learning of students the past two years and moving forward.
Kim Fadrigan, K-5 Literacy Coordinator, provided an update on Reveal Math, the new program that is being implemented. Gorham Administrators, employing the curriculum review cycle that the school department uses, had noticed that the testing scores in math, although still about the state average, have slipped somewhat. Reveal Math is strongly reviewed and provides rigor, coherence K-12, dynamic problem solving strategies and lots of scaffolding support for students.
Hollis Cobb, Business Manager, updated the committee on two RFP’s that have been reviewed by the finance committee: payroll software and custodial services. The committee will move forward with the recommendations for choosing companies.
There was a preliminary discussion of the school calendar for next year. Dr. Brian Porter, the Assistant Superintendent outlined the need for more staff development for teachers, particularly in light of new curricula requirements.
The school committee will not make a decision on the calendar without more information and feedback from parents and staff.