At the start of the May 12 regular School Committee (SC) meeting, Emily Paruk, a Gorham High School (GHS) senior, virtually shared one of the poems she recited to win the state Poetry-Out-Loud contest.
Superintendent Heather Perry announced modifications to the district masking rules. When students are outside and six feet apart they do not need to wear masks. Athletes on the field may remove their masks but must keep them on when not actively participating. Teachers are being encouraged to hold classes outside when possible.
Perry said the number of remote-learning students changed slightly from previous months at 115 elementary school students, 68 from Gorham Middle School (GMS), and 67 GHS students.
Perry said the four-day school week was going very well with the help of Gorham police and volunteers. According to one teacher, “Schools sound again like schools.” Each of the SC members thanked everyone who made this possible. They also reported that meals are now being served from the new Narragansett Elementary School kitchen.
Eliza Kenigsberg, who heads the ASPIRE Gorham program, and Jan Belanger, who coordinates ASPIRE activities, presented an overview of the program that helps children toward achieving their aspirations as adults.
Kenigsberg explained that they focus on exposing elementary school children to different jobs, helping GMS students explore career choices, and enabling GHS students to experience a variety of workplace environments.
“This support of Gorham children in becoming productive adults with meaningful goals is a community-wide effort,” said Kenigsberg.
Belanger described some of the activities she coordinated this past year, many virtually. Along with one-on-one coaching conversations, ASPIRE conducted 32 sessions that connected 542 students with people in a variety of careers. A partnership with USM enabled 97 GHS students to earn 300 credit hours at a tuition savings of $86,000 Kenigsberg said. She introduced Byron Williams of Montalvo Company, who described the opportunities afforded to a GHS student who completed an internship with the company.
The SC voted (6-0, Gagnon absent): to approve four updated policies; to authorize Perry to move forward with a contract with Net Energy Billing, which will save the district electricity costs by using CMP credits to buy solar energy; and to table a proposed adjustment to the FY22 CIPS budget until after a workshop discussion.
They also voted (6-0) to give yearly contracts to probationary teachers and to offer a continuing contract to third year teachers.
The SC voted unanimously to appoint Dr. Brian Porter assistant superintendent of Gorham Schools. Perry said that Porter, currently Village Elementary School principal, was chosen from 12 candidates by a diverse search committee. They were particularly impressed by his positive energy and passion for education during more than 30 years with the district.
As a result of a previous vote to end the current GHS alternative education program, the SC voted to eliminate the positions of two teachers and one support staff person and to terminate their contracts. They made it clear that was a decision made reluctantly, but necessary because the program is being reconstructed.
Perry presented summary data on students and staff absences from district schools in April due to COVID-19 cases and quarantine requirements. These included 254 K-5 students and 35 staff members and 383 6-12 students and 30 staff. She said that the numbers were better following the April break and that probably 90 percent of teachers are vaccinated. MaineHealth will be holding clinics for students 12 and older.