DYER BROOK, Maine — It was an eventful Tuesday evening when Maine Regional School Unit 50 directors met for their regular board meeting at the Southern Aroostook Community School.
School board members met to discuss a number of issues pertaining to the recently consolidated Katahdin and Southern Aroostook Community school systems, which now make up RSU 50. Due to the ongoing consolidation process the recent board meetings have been arduous and time consuming, mainly because the school system is at an important point in the alignment process.
One of these important issues in the consolidation process is the review of the policy manuals (CSD 9 and SAD 25). The two schools are working to establish a single document with certain aspects from the previous manuals, as well as some new policies.
“It’s a process we’re going through. We’re reviewing both Katahdin and Southern Aroostook’s policies to adopt one from there,” said RSU 50 Superintendent Larry Malone. Further discussion of the revised policy manual will continue at the next regular board meeting in December.
There were a number of support staff and co-curricular appointments approved Nov. 12 including Danielle Chong, the varsity cheerleading coach at Katahdin Middle/High School; Phil Faulkner, middle school girls basketball coach at KMHS; Alaina Pethick and Kim Russell, grade 8 co-class advisers at SACS; Clifton Urquhart, grade 9 class adviser at SACS; Suzette Tarr, grade 10 class adviser at SACS; Hilary Lane, the 11th grade class adviser at SACS; and Anne Odgers, Young Authors adviser for SACS.
Board members approved James McAvoy for the position of buildings and grounds supervisor at the Katahdin schools while Cody Brackett was hired as a transportation assistant and Wayne England as a bus driver. They also accepted Leanne Slauenwhite’s resignation from a custodial position at SACS.
There were a number of retirees who were honored at the meeting for their many years of service to their respective schools. Bonnie Collier retires after 28 years. She began her teaching career at the middle school level, but taught high school English at SACS for many years. John Getchell retires after four decades of teaching. He taught art at the high school level, while also teaching middle school math and science. He continues to teach art part-time. Irene Montgomery retires after 26 years of service.
She was a special education teacher at the Southern Aroostook Elementary School. Robert Montgomery retires after 20 years at SACS as an educational technician. Louann Ritchie retires after 25 years of teaching at the elementary level.
These former Southern Aroostook teachers were all honored with personalized plaques, although only Collier was present to receive her tribute.
The Katahdin retirees included Judith Stevens, who is leaving after 38 years of teaching grade 6 and Dana Rioux, who is finishing his career in the classroom after 33 years.
He began his career teaching French, but was also a technological consultant with Katahdin for many years.
The Katahdin retirees will be invited to receive their plaques at the Dec. 9th regular board meeting being held at the Katahdin Elementary School at 6:30 p.m.
Malone said there were no citizens who came forth with questions or comments at the meeting.
The RSU 50 school board convened to executive session to discuss the current status of negotiations with the teaching staff across the RSU and additionally a personnel matter. No official action was taken on either matter.
