At the October 9 regular meeting of the School Committee (SC), Superintendent Heather Perry reported the shortage of substitute teachers may be alleviated by a new policy that reduces the educational requirements for applicants. The department has hired two more bus drivers to help with that shortage too. An educational technician is still needed at Great Falls Elementary School.

Perry also reported that the essay prompt for the state English Language Arts assessment for writing has been dropped because it was not an effective indicator.

Chairman Darryl Wright reported that State Farm Insurance awarded the district $25,000 for the Backpack program and greenhouse at the Gorham Middle School. Stewart McCallister thanked the volunteers who help students and staff with that program. Several committee members who accompanied classes on field trips and attended the State Supreme Court session held at Gorham High School said it was a rewarding experience for them and the students.

Wright thanked Kyle Currier and Stewart McCallister, whose terms on the SC are expiring, for their service and presented them with the traditional apple paperweights. Currier served nine years in many capacities and McCallister is completing his second year as vice-chair.

Perry presented an update on Gorham’s plans to offer pre-K opportunities in the district. Because building capacity can hardly keep up with increasing enrollment and the district has already identified need for capital improvements, it will not be possible to hold Pre-K classes in the public schools.

Therefore, the district is planning to partner with local early childcare providers in cooperation with the ASPIRE program to create a community-based program. State funding available for Pre-K education would go through the school department to providers who meet the quality standards required. A steering committee that includes educators and providers will be working with a project manager from ASPIRE to implement the program. This will include identifying providers who want to participate and helping them achieve the necessary quality rating.

In other business, the committee voted unanimously to make clarifying changes in the policies for school visitors and volunteers and to raise the amount the district can spend without competitive bids in certain situations to $150,000.