PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began a year ago, SAD 1 officials are seeing early signs of an eventual return to normal school days and events for students and staff.
Superintendent Ben Greenlaw praised Gov. Janet Mills’ decision to decrease size limits for indoor and outdoor gatherings throughout the spring at the most recent school board meeting held Wednesday..
The governor’s reopening plan will change the indoor capacity limits from 50 people to 50 percent on March 26 and then to 75 percent before Memorial Day. Outdoor gatherings, including sporting events, will be allowed to operate at 75 percent capacity per venue starting March 26 and then 100 percent before Memorial Day.
Though students and staff will continue wearing masks at school and keep desks at least three feet apart, the new capacity limits could allow the schools to hold smaller scale events at the end of the year.
“We’re figuring out how we might hold events like our high school prom, graduation and fifth and eighth grade assemblies while still wearing masks and social distancing,” Greenlaw said. “[Each event] will look different depending on the size of the room.”
The easing of outdoor event restrictions also is a good sign for athletic events, noted SAD 1 athletic director Mark White. The rule allowing for 75 percent capacity at each sporting game will potentially allow more spectators to watch games in person while wearing masks and social distancing.
SAD 1 is still awaiting guidance on how to properly conduct spring sports such as baseball, softball and track and field. But unlike the soccer and basketball seasons, the teams will be able to travel outside Aroostook County for away games.
“I still expect that our teams will be able to keep 80 percent of their normal schedules,” White said. “We’re very pleased to say that the season is looking closer to what it was before COVID.”
The decrease in active COVID-19 cases in Aroostook County is also helping students, parents and staff members begin to envision more normal school days, Greenlaw said. SAD 1 has not reported a confirmed case of COVID-19 at any of their schools since early February. Since then, there has been a steady decrease in students who are learning remotely.
“We’re down to 13 percent of students learning remotely compared to 15.7 percent during my last update. This equals to only 10 remote learners at each school,” Greenlaw said. “The longer we go without a confirmed case, the more students are coming back. I think this trend will continue as restrictions are eased.”
Expanded access to vaccines will also play a role in reducing the likelihood of COVID-19 exposure. Northern Light AR Gould Hospital recently opened vaccine appointments to all local school staff members and licensed day care providers regardless of age.
According to a recent district-wide survey, 86 percent of SAD 1 staff members plan to get vaccinated.
Greenlaw also announced that the district will receive $1.7 million more from the CARES Act Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds. The district will use those funds to address student learning gaps and improve the schools’ ventilation systems.
Past CARES Act funding awarded to the district, totaling 5.4 million since the start of the pandemic, has already resulted in new iPads for students, increased access to WiFi for families in need and new siding for Presque Isle High School. That latter project is expected to be completed by the end of the summer.
Greenlaw noted that the district will receive funds allocated from President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan, but the exact amount and time frame for spending the funds have not yet been determined.
In other business, Greenlaw said that he expects to give school board members an update on the district’s next fiscal year budget in April. Last month Greenlaw said that current state calculations estimate SAD 1 receiving $13 million from the state, with $6 million more needing to be raised bythe communities the district serves.
“Our goal, like last year, is to have a zero or minimal increase [in school-based taxes] for our communities,” Greenlaw said.
The next SAD 1 school board meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 14, in the Presque Isle High School cafeteria.
