PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Members of School Administrative District 1 met on Dec. 14 to vote on board officers and recognize outgoing members.
SAD 1 voted unanimously for 28 policies on school board governance, including a new policy on nepotism. Two policies on school board agendas and formats for agendas were tabled until the next meeting.
The board also heard a report about an influenza infection that is running through staff and students.
“Like many schools in the northeast and Maine, specifically in Aroostook County, we’re seeing an uptick in the number of illnesses in our district,” superintendent Ben Greenlaw said.
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — December 14, 2022 — The SAD 1 school board recognized Julie Freeman (middle) for her 18 years of service. Taking part are SAD 1 Superintendent Ben Greenlaw (left) and school board chairperson Lucy Richard (right) at the school board meeting at Zippel Elementary School on Dec. 14. (Paul Bagnall | The Star-Herald)
As of Dec. 15, influenza infection is affecting more than 15 percent, with 57 students and one staff member out sick in the Middle School. That is the threshold at which the school district is required to report it to the Maine Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.
The school board voted unanimously for officers including Lucy Richard to serve as school board chairperson for next year and Desiree Albert to serve as vice chairperson. The school board Finance Committee had three spots open that went to Jim Bubar, Curtis Culberson and John Harvell.
The board recognized outgoing member Roberta Fitzgerald-Hathaway for six years of service, Carol Bell for 12 years and Julie Freeman for 18 years.
After SAD 1 was denied an electric bus to add to its fleet of three diesel buses, the school board voted unanimously to purchase a fourth diesel bus that costs around $106,000. The three buses the district has each had cost the same amount.
A video presentation led by Meghan Swanson called “A Christmas Act of Kindness” showed students of Zippel Elementary School describing acts of kindness and why they matter. The presentation was made to encourage positive behavior in kids for not only the holidays but all year.
“It’s nice to be back in Zippel Elementary School. It’s been awhile,” Greenlaw said. “Next month we’ll be at Pine Street. It’s nice to be out and about like we were in September at the [Educational] Farm.”
The next SAD 1 school board meeting will be held at Pine Street Elementary on Jan. 18, 2023.
