NEW SWEDEN, Maine — Superintendent Karla Michaud updated School Union 122 during their Thursday, March 3 meeting in the New Sweden school library, covering a variety of topics ranging from staff workshops to awards and MEA testing.
“We’ve had a workshop day today and will have another one tomorrow,” said Michaud. “Our staff our very busy working on complex reasoning skills, habits of mind, MEA testing preparation, as well as safety care training. Both buildings have plenty to accomplish and are working hard on all the initiatives required by the Department of Education.”
Michaud informed school board members that the 2016 Performance Evaluation and Professional Growth (PEPG) submittal form has been completed along with the PEPG teacher and principal evaluation procedures, and that it was sent to the Maine’s Department of Education on Feb. 26.
“I gave you all a copy of the Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey,” said Michaud. “We had grades five through eight involved in the survey, and things look good. There are lots of decreases in substance abuse. The results show that schools have seen a rise in bullying, and we are working hard to take care of that. I don’t think it’s a big issue here, but it is state-wide.”
The Superintendent announced that Erin Tateishi, a teacher at Woodland School, was given the Class A boys swim team Coach of the Year award.
According to Michaud, MEA testing for grades three to eight in ELA, and math and science for fifth- and eighth-graders is approaching, with the testing window landing between March 21 and April 15. Superintendent and staff are working with Lisa Milliard to ease the transition from Smarter Balance to Empower Maine testing. The latter format is promised to be shorter and more concise with embedded and non-embedded accommodations.
The New Sweden school year is now set to extend to Friday, June 10, the same day as Woodland. This is due to boiler and heating problems on Feb. 26 that resulted in a one-day cancellation for New Sweden students.
