PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — SAD 1 students can take advantage of additional learning to help jump-start their careers.
The SAD 1 school board learned March 15 that around 12 Presque Isle High School students have enrolled in the Extended Learning Opportunities program.
Presque Isle High School Guidance Director Allison Reed gave an overview of the program, which she took over in the fall. Through the venture, students can participate in paid internships and job shadow across multiple career fields.
“One of the things that I really wanted to talk about as the guidance director is making sure that our kids are career, college, or citizen ready,” Reed said.
The learning opportunities program focuses on education, employment, and enlistment in careers with an emphasis on community-based career exploration.
School staff meet with students who have the necessary graduation requirements in a system that operates like a Google Classroom.
Students complete courses depending on the career field and submit a group project at the end of the course. Those who choose a career are paired with teachers and businesses throughout the community for job shadowing experiences.
In other business, the school board approved a new elementary math pilot program called Into Math for grades K through 12 that was deployed during the 2022-2023 elementary school year.
Curriculum Director Jennifer Bourassa said elementary teachers requested an update for the math program in 2020 and 2021. The biggest concern teachers voiced about Into Math was that it was too word heavy, which would be problematic for literacy gaps but would be the best fit for the school’s math program.
“Our literacy scores are fine but they always could be better,” Bourassa said. “I do see this as another opportunity to weave literacy into strengthen literacy scores even though you are teaching math.”
The cost of the Into Math program is $30,000, which also includes integrated technology that would be a better replacement for their I Excel, or IXL, program, Bourassa said.
Directors approved the following staff resignations: Alexandra Edmunds, special education teacher at Zippel Elementary School; Loriann Bates, sixth-grade teacher at Presque Isle Middle School; and Timothy McCue, district security director.
Ralph Conroy, director of career and technical education at the Presque Isle Tech Center, was recognized for his retirement.
“I know we are going to say goodbye to some friendly faces at the end of the school year, but we are looking forward to seeing some new ones come into our building next year as well for staff members,” said Barbara Bartlett, principal for Presque Isle Middle School.
Two new staff appointments were approved, including Jonah Hudson, physical education teacher at the middle school, and Laura Baker, food service director, who will transfer from her position as head cook at Mapleton Elementary School.
The girls varsity basketball team was awarded the sportsmanship award for Class B North from the Maine Principals Association on Monday, March 13.
Winter sports are wrapping up to make way for track, cross country, baseball and softball. Pitchers and catchers for baseball and softball at the high school began today on March 20. Unified Basketball finished their season on Friday, March 17.
The next school board meeting will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 11, at Mapleton Elementary School.
