The Gorham School Committee (SC) welcomed new member Eric Thistle and re-elected member Nicole Yeo-Fisher to the Wednesday, Nov. 13 regular meeting. The committee reelected Sarah Perkins chair and elected Yeo-Fisher vice-chair. Committee assignments were announced and are listed on the School Committee website.

Superintendent Heather Perry reported that although federal funding the State Department of Education received during the pandemic is running out, the state is committed to its own funding levels. She said that next year the Family Medical Leave Act will require the district to make substantial payments. The district is still down two special ed techs and two bus drivers, although there are drivers in training. She announced the Dessert and Discussion meeting Nov. 14 to kick off the budget process, open to the public.

The School Committee joined with Perry in congratulating the fall athletes, particularly the Girls Volleyball team, state champions, and the GHS students who participated in the production of “The Crucible.” SC members thanked voters for passing the capital improvements bond referendum. The committees made reports which included Stewart McCallister reporting the Finance Committee’s discussion of village walkability.

The PATH vocational education program has an increase in Gorham students, Jennifer Whitehead reported. Michelle Littlefield said that the Joint Fiscal Sustainability Committee is reviewing performance indicators. The Alternative Education Committee is working on student transitions between schools.

Six Great Falls Elementary School students demonstrated the Book Buddies program. Fifth grade students are paired with kindergarteners to help with reading. The fifth grader mentors said, “It was a chance to be leaders and learn to be patient.” The kindergarteners agreed that “it was fun to read together.”

Bridget Kahn, the district’s new Adult Education Director, reviewed the program, which is one of 78 other programs statewide that serve 13,000 adult Mainers. In Gorham education and career training are ongoing. The HSE program for high school graduation had 5 to 8 students a year but is growing with the addition of remedial classes. Workforce training included training for substitute teachers and healthcare workers, including CNA training. The multilingual program has 22 students enrolled at First Parish Church, home to some immigrant families. Gorham enrichment programs attract many older adults, and 402 have participated in 91 classes this year, generating $30,000 in income. Kahn‘s goal for the program is to work with the district to provide a wide range of programs.

Superintendent Perry reviewed the results of the Thought Exchange Survey on views about the budget and the district’s need for and use of recourses. There were 640 on-line participants, predominately students, teachers and parents, but also 13% community members with no connection to the schools. Seventy-two percent thought the district was doing a good job; 28% disagreed. Major areas of concern were the budget and student engagement.

Forty-three percent of respondents thought the current budget was okay. Of the rest, 25% thought it was too high; 32% thought it was too low. The five most mentioned priorities were for more mental health resources and councilors, more staffing, more staff and resources for special education, reducing class sizes, and improving facilities. Although 63% of staff members believed there were adequate resources, others felt the need for more and for more support and training, especially support staff for special education.