PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Superintendent Ben Greenlaw described how the district planned to spend $1.5 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) funding, and explained how his schools were preparing to begin the new semester amid the COVID-19 pandemic during SAD 1’s meeting held Wednesday, Aug. 19.
SAD 1 has used CARES Act funding — released by Gov. Janet Mill to districts in mid-July– to make several purchases that will address challenges that come with in-person schooling during a pandemic.
The acquisition of four new buses will assist the district as it seeks to transport students to school with new capacity limits. Twelve new water fountains with water bottle filling stations will give students the chance to stay hydrated in a hygienic manner. And a vast amount of masks and other personal protection equipment will protect students and teachers from potential spread of the virus.
The money will also expand the district’s staffing, including hiring more full-time substitute teachers to anticipate new teacher absences and new nursing and custodial staff. Money will also be set aside for teachers who may need to work overtime as they simultaneously teach students remotely and in-person.
Superintendent Ben Greenlaw speaks at an SAD 1 school board meeting on Wednesday, August 19. (David Marino Jr.)
In his superintendent’s report, Greenlaw said that he continued to feel positive about reopening schools, arguing it was best for students academically and socially.
Greenlaw has long said that he would only seek to go back to remote learning if there was community spread of COVID-19 in the SAD 1 community. He said that there were no active cases in Aroostook County — that was true on Wednesday, but as of Friday, there were four active cases in The County, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control. It is unknown if those cases are in the Presque Isle area.
The cost of in-person instruction is several new restrictions. Though it wasn’t in the district’s reopening plan until mandated by the Maine Department of Education, SAD 1 students will be required to wear masks and keep three feet apart throughout the day. Greenlaw said teachers are authorized to allow students to take off their masks for “mask breaks” whenever they feel it is necessary.
“My thinking is, the younger the student, the more mask breaks they will need,” Greenlaw said.
SAD 1 Nursing Director Lisa McKenna gave a presentation on how the district was following COVID-19 protocols in the school year. She said there would be an increased nursing presence in each school to monitor the health of students. Each building has also set aside an “isolation space” for sick students to keep them away from the student body.
The first day of school for the whole of Presque Isle High School was on Thursday, while K-8 students will begin on Sep. 8.
Not all students will be in the classroom. About 18 percent of students are slated to learn remotely, a rate that was higher at the elementary level than high school, Greenlaw said. Those students — many of whom have parents that feel unsafe sending their children to school during a pandemic — will be accommodated throughout the year.
The next SAD 1 school board meeting is on Wednesday, Sep. 16, in the Presque Isle High School cafeteria.
