By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

The hope is when school reopens in the fall, normalcy will return.

“This has been a year like no other. I hope we can return to school next year (this fall) with normality, even though I know it won’t be 100%,” SAD 61 Superintendent of Schools Al Smith told School Board members Monday night. 

The “reopening plan” is to:

• All schools will be open for in-person learning on Sept. 1

• Remote instruction will not be offered as a learning alternative

• Students will not need to social distance in school, including during lunch

• Students will move among classrooms as they did pre-Covid.

• Field trips will resume

• Buses will operate at full capacity without social distancing and without masks

• Late buses will resume

• All sports, clubs and extra-curriculars will continue to follow CDC requirements

Smith, however, emphasized the “reopening plan” will remain “extremely fluid.”

“I’ve updated it weekly since the first draft came out,” he told directors.

Yet, one element of the reopening plan Casco Director Gary Lewis “absolutely” could not support was lifting the mask mandate inside school facilities for non-vaccinated students and staff.

The plan calls for, “Masks will not be required for students and staff in school or outside at recess. However, masks are recommendedfor non-vaccinated students and staff.” Smith noted this standard was issued by the State of Maine on June 11.

“The district strongly encourages vaccinations for all staff and students, who are eligible,” the plan states. Smith noted that public school systems lack the authority to make vaccinations mandatory.

One measure to reduce Covid-19 transmission will be a district-wide pool testing program (full explanation of the process described on the SAD 61 website). A nurse will be hired full-time to oversee testing.  

“It’s not perfect science, but does produce a good process to catch early symptoms,” Smith said.

By following protocols and instituting an aggressive cleaning schedule, SAD 61 had 62 Covid-19 cases this past school year. The breakdown was as follows:

Stevens Brook Elementary — 3 staff, 11 students

Songo Locks School — 8 staff, 2 students

Lake Region MS — 4 staff, 9 students

Lake Region HS — 6 staff, 13 students

District — 6 staff

Total: 27 staff, 35 students

“Having 2,400 people in the system, to have 62 cases was pretty low. The area was pretty blessed,” Smith said. “That doesn’t mean we don’t do our due diligence (in regards to the reopening plan).”

The superintendent asked for public comment regarding the plan, and did receive five messages regarding concerns parents had. Rae-Anne Nguyen, a parent of a LRMS student, voiced her concerns via Zoom Monday night.

“Masking is super important,” she said. While congratulating the district for posting low Covid-19 numbers, Nguyen cautioned officials that reasons infections were low were likely due to hybrid learning, masking and social distancing. Dropping these measures, especially with virus variants spreading amongst children, could lead to trouble. Nguyen asked that more specific information regarding pool testing procedures and how/when students are tested be posted on the district website.

“I don’t have enough information from the district whether to opt in my child or not,” she said.

Director Gary Lewis strongly supported masking indoors for those who are unvaccinated.

“If something doesn’t work out well, we’ll have sick kids,” he said. “The numbers were low because we had masks. At the elementary schools, none of the students are vaccinated. Once vaccinated, we can readjust…I’d push to err on the side of caution. I’m concerned about the health of students and staff.”

Smith responded, “I do care about keeping everyone safe. We were one of the school systems that went above and beyond…I checked with area schools, and they are following the same (guidelines) at this point of time.”

He added, “I realize we need to be cautious and protective of children, but we need to listen to parents. I didn’t hear from a ton of parents (regarding the plan). I respect anyone’s decision to wear a mask.”

School Board Chairwoman Janice Barter suggested the plan include language that if the county’s risk level remains “low” then masks will not be required, but if it jumps, officials can revisit the masking issue. Smith noted that the CDC every two weeks issues a notice regarding county infection levels.

Director Deb Albert of Bridgton felt the plan should also include wording that incorporates Maine Principals’ Association mandates regarding athletics.

The School Board approved the reopening plan with Lewis casting the lone no vote.

In other school board notes:

• Board Leadership. By unanimous vote, Janet Barter of Naples was re-elected as chairwoman of the SAD 61 School Board, and Karla Swanson-Murphy of Bridgton was re-elected as vice chairwoman.

The Finance Committee will include Swanson-Murphy, Debra Albert of Bridgton, Stan Buchanan of South Casco and Phil Shane of Casco.

• School report. Quick notes from Stevens Brook Elementary School Principal Cheryl Turpin — 10 graduating seniors made the return trip to their educational roots, gathering outside SBES and enjoying time on the monkey bars and slide with younger students…To spend down remaining Backpack Program funds, huge boxes filled with about $200 worth in food items were given to parents…Camp Intervention is booming this summer with 62 students participating (strong recruiting by teacher Allison Sands), up from 18 a year ago…the last day assembly was held under the big tent, marking the first time all year the school community was able to come together as one, an “uplifting” experience, Principal Turpin noted. She gave her report via Zoom from her office. When School Board Chairwoman Janice Barter wished Turpin well on her retirement, she thought there might be a few tears. Turpin admitted, “Silent tears.”

• Personnel.The following nominations were approved:

Jeanine Nadeauas a Kindergarten teacher at Songo Locks Elementary School, replacing Samantha Elgin, who resigned. There were 18 applicants, 10 were interviewed. Nadeau earned a master’s degree in Reading from Grand Canyon University and a bachelor of science in Elementary Education from William Penn College. Previously, she was a Grade 1 teacher at SAD 72 (Denmark).

Miranda Shortyas an English/Language Arts teacher at Lake Region High School replacing Corinne Fournier, who resigned. There were 11 applicants, four were interviewed. Shorty earned a master of education from New England College and a bachelor of Fine Arts (English) from the University of Southern Maine. Previously, she was an English teacher in Rochester, N.H.

Kellie Mieropas a Math teacher at Lake Region Middle School replacing Thomas Coady, who transferred to Lake Region High School. There were 16 applicants, three were interviewed. Mierop earned a bachelor of Fine Arts (Art History, minor Textile Design) from Syracuse University. Previously, she was a Grade 6 Math teacher at Westbrook Middle School.

Abigail Earleas a Social Studies teacher at Lake Region High School, replacing Anne Gregory, who resigned. There were 36 applicants, six were interviewed. Earle earned a bachelor of arts (History and Secondary Education, minor in Classics) from Saint Joseph’s College. Previously, she was a long—term substitute at the CAPS Program in South Paris.

Megan Mageeas a School Counselor at Songo Locks Elementary School replacing Amy Redmond, who resigned. There were two applicants, two were interviewed. Magee earned a master of education (Education and Human Resource Studies) from Colorado State University and a bachelor of arts (Gender and Women’s Studies, minor in English) from Bowdoin College. Previously, she was a school counselor at Bonny Eagle High School.

Jacob Wisecupas a Social Worker at Lake Region Middle School (two-year funded position). There were 16 applicants, two were interviewed. Wisecup earned a master of Social Work from Smith College and a bachelor of arts in Psychology (minor Science) from Thomas College. Previously, he was a Public School Clinician at Spurwink in Portland. 

Faith Irishas a Permanent Substitute at Stevens Brook Elementary School. There were six applicants, one was interviewed. Irish earned an associate’s degree in Applied Science (Early Childhood Education) from Southern Maine Community College.

Mary Wood, M.D.of Central Maine Hospital-Bridgton as School Physician for the 2021-2022 school year. 

• Retirement:Joseph Archambault, driver for the District, has retired effective June 18, 2021. 

• Resignations:

Abigail Merriam, Special Education Resource Room teacher at Lake Region Middle School, has resigned effective June 21, 2021. 

Alison O’Connor, Physics teacher at Lake Region High School, has resigned effective June 21, 2021. 

Leah Rottari, Ed Tech at Stevens Brook Elementary School, has resigned effective June 21, 2021. 

Jennifer Taylor, Special Education Ed Tech II at Lake Region Middle School, has resigned effective June 22, 2021. 

• Transfer: Kim Guptill, appointed as Academic Leader at Stevens Brook Elementary 

School for the 2021-2022 school year is transferring to a Special Education Coach/IEP Coordinator position at Stevens Brook Elementary School for the 2021-2022 school year. 

• Rescinded: Jennifer Doucette, appointed on May 10, 2021 as a School Psychologist at Lake Region High School, has rescinded acceptance of the position.