Barnes named Limestone Community School principal

    CARIBOU, Maine — Limestone Community School vice principal and athletic director Travis Barnes will take over as principal for the new school year, following his selection by the RSU 39 board of directors during Wednesday’s meeting.
Barnes has been at LCS for the past two years. He will assume his new post on July 1, taking the reins from current principal Susan White. White, a 22-year veteran of RSU 39, was recently chosen as the school system’s new superintendent to succeed Frank McElwain, who will retire after serving for the past 12 years.
Barnes is looking forward to his new role and the opportunity to expand his leadership experience in the district. “A leader is only as good as the sum of his supporters,” he said. “We have a great school here at LCS, and I’m very excited to tap into that and help move our school in a good direction for our kids — because it’s all about the kids.”
An educator for 16 years, Barnes received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine at Presque Isle and his master’s from UMO. Before he came to LCS two years ago, he taught grades 5, 7 and 8 at Caribou Middle School, and also served there as assistant principal and as athletic administrator for six years.
“LCS is unique in that we’re a pre-K to 12 facility, and we can use that as a strength for our school,” he said. “Teachers can work across different levels, and students can move more fluidly when and if they are ready to move into higher-level classes.” For instance, a middle-school student who is ready for a high-school-level subject area may be able to access that class more easily than if the grades were at separate facilities, he explained.
Barnes credits his family with being his support system. His wife, Kim, teaches grade 7 at CMS; daughter Shelby is in sixth grade there, and son Brady is in kindergarten at the Hilltop School. “They are definitely my support group to allow me to be able to be in school leadership,” he added. “It takes a lot of time, and time away from family, and they are great to support me in that.”
In other business at Wednesday’s meeting, the board learned of six resignations within the system: Kristie Adams, kindergarten teacher at LCS; Karen Nadeau, district business manager; Angela Pelletier, grade 3 teacher at Teague Park School; Susan Plissey, district school nurse; Keegan Wakana, boys’ junior varsity soccer coach at Caribou High School; and Rebecca West, girls’ varsity soccer coach at LCS.
In addition, first-grade teacher Marty Belanger at the Hilltop School will transfer to the role of Title I teacher.
Members approved the notice of amounts to be adopted during the district-wide public budget meeting, scheduled for tonight. The proposed RSU 39 budget for the 2014-15 school year totals $18,404,350, and voters will decide on each separate cost center, said McElwain. He handed out booklets detailing the budget that had been prepared for voters.
The board unanimously approved an option to grant a one-time workplace learning credit for students. Lois Brewer, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, explained that under the proposal, students completing 200 work hours would be eligible for one elective credit, if approved by the guidance counselor and principal. Board Chair Clifford Rhome asked for clarification as to the type of work allowed, and Brewer said any workplace experience would be applicable.
“I think it’s a wonderful idea,” board member Tanya Sleeper said, but recommended that an opportunity for employer comments be included.
The superintendent updated the board on recent activity of the CHS Scholarship Finance Committee, which had recommended that $14,600 be disbursed this year in scholarships of various amounts. The board unanimously granted approval of that amount. The Scholarship Selection Committee will meet June 5 to consider applicants, and in response to a request for volunteers, Sleeper said she would like to participate in the process. The group also voted to invest in the Alfred Cote Scholarship Fund.
McElwain gave an update of the district’s progress on adopting the proficiency-based education model. Priorities for the coming school year will include examining and exploring the curriculum as well as evaluation and graduation standards.
He also talked about a new performance evaluation and professional growth system RSU 39 is implementing. “The idea is, you come into the system and we’re going to help you get better throughout your career,” he said. A local committee has been meeting since January to develop the system into a local model in accordance with Maine school laws.
During administrative updates, the board learned that:
• The LCS Destination Imagination team is on their way to national competition, and teachers are enthusiastic about students’ success in recent testing, in which 96 percent had shown improvement.
• Hilltop Elementary students recently collected items that were sent to needy students in the Dominican Republic.
• At the Teague Park School, the PTO Family Fun Night was a success, and Caribou Regional Technology Center students have made a “buddy bench” for those who might feel alone during recess, so classmates can spot them and help out.
• Caribou Middle School seventh- and eighth-grade math teams placed third overall in the Aroostook Math League’s competitions, and author Cathie Pelletier is due to visit the school.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, LCS speech pathologist Renee Parente thanked members for their dedication to students and staff and for their extensive, difficult work to finalize the 2014-15 budget, which will be presented to voters for their approval tonight.
Staff had been asked to offer suggestions on financial streamlining, which Parente called “an excellent example of keeping the lines of communication open” and working together to make the best decisions in this time of economic uncertainty and declining student enrollment. “We are all on the same voyage,” she said, “and we need to work together to keep this ship afloat.”
The next RSU 39 board meeting is scheduled June 4.