Newly elected members of the School Committee (SC), Stewart McCallister and Jennifer Whitehead, were welcomed at the November 9 meeting. The committee elected Darryl Wright chair and Sarah Perkins vice-chair. New committee assignments are listed on the Gorham School Department website. All members thanked voters for passing the referendum question that will fund the HVAC project at the high school and complete the Narragansett modular expansion.
Superintendent Heather Perry said that $44,000 in state moneys have been allocated to help districts provide services for multi-language learners and services such as transportation for the homeless student population. She announced that the state funding formula was changed after COVID-19, but that the 55% state subsidy will be maintained. Although the district hired fifteen new substitutes, they still need more. She encouraged people to apply on the district website. They are still using contracted bus drivers and so need more, but seven are currently in training. She also encouraged parents to fill out school lunch forms. Even though the free lunch for everyone program continues, it is important to have the information for funding.
Chairman Darryl Wright addressed misinformation about the use of nicknames in the schools. Wright called it “an important issue that we as a school system care deeply about,” hoping to have addressed it with the entire school community at the meeting. “We honor the legally protected rights of our students and staff, as defined by the human rights act, state agency guidance, and Maine’s Supreme Court.” He continued, “This means that we respect the designated pronouns that correspond with individuals’ sincere gender identities. This is not a nickname system, as has been suggested, but rather we are honoring the genuine identities of members of our school community.” The school involves both students and parents when issues arise and only when there is a credible concern about a student’s safety are parents not initially involved. There is no legal need for a district policy since this protection is state law.
The Great Falls Civil Rights Team made a presentation and showed a video of their activities this fall. In its fifth year, the team of 40 students meets twice a month. Fourth- and fifth-grade students are recommended by their teachers or join on their own. Deanna Etienne and Ellen Berry are the faculty facilitators. The students’ goal is to promote inclusion, diversity, and kindness at Great Falls. On November 4, they held a Day of Welcoming, an event celebrated in all Gorham schools. They also produced a short, entertaining video that highlighted their activities and explained their mission of inclusion and respect for all peoples. The video is available as a link from the superintendent’s blog. It also can be accessed on the district’s social media page.
The Local Certification Committee presented an overview of their work, which is to make sure contract personnel are keeping up with their professional certification. Mentors and “building buddies” give support to staff who must demonstrate 90 hours of professional development within five years to maintain certification.
Subcommittee members gave reports. The Finance Committee reported that they are over the moneys budgeted for the year for legal services. The Vocational Education Committee said they are collecting data on participation in vocational courses, including gender and other criteria. The Anti-Racism and Equity Committee is focusing on seeking more community engagement. The Dropout Committee is working to increase attendance by, among other strategies, instituting a “Good Morning Club,” that welcomes students who have problems with attendance.
The SC voted 7-0 to approve changes in four policies, mainly to bring them in compliance with state requirements. The policy on Student Discrimination and Harassment was amended to include prohibiting harassment “based on hair texture or style that are race-related.” This reflects a change in the Maine Human Rights Act.