SAD 29 OKs new positions

Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
NEW SUPERINTENDENT — Mike Hammer, the new superintendent for SAD 29, speaks to the school board during a recent meeting. Prior to coming to Houlton, Hammer was formerly a superintendent for the Otis School Department and was a principal at Hancock Grammar School.
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Two new programs aimed at helping elementary and junior high students achieve success in school will be part of the curriculum this fall.
    The SAD 29 board gave its approval Monday to hire an alternative education coordinator for students in grades seven and eight and also to hire an elementary guidance counselor. Cost estimates were up to $65,000 for the alternative education coordinator and up to $70,000 for the elementary guidance counselor. Funding for both positions was already included in the 2011-12 budget.
    The district has already advertised for the two positions and has received six applicants for the alternative education coordinator and 10 applicants for the elementary guidance counselor.
    Superintendent Mike Hammer explained the objectives of the alternative education program.
    “The program’s objective is to really provide unsuccessful at-risk students in SAD/RSU29 with an early intervention program,” Hammer said. “We’re targeting seventh- and eighth-graders, but we also felt there could be a sixth-grade student that could access this, or a ninth-grade student.”
    Electives will be offered as needed by the students, while career and vocational education and service learning will be integrated within the curriculum. A special room will also be created at Houlton High School for the program.
    Houlton Junior-Senior High School Principal Marty Bouchard explained that by hiring an alternative education coordinator, the district would be better able to identify students who might fit into the parameter for the program and provide those students with help needed in a different environment.
    The alternative education program will essentially offer a “school-within-a-school” program for students in a controlled environment, which may extend beyond the regular school day for extra instructional time or after-school activities.
    “With all of our programs, we review them as we go and make adjustments to make them better,” Bouchard said. “Currently we have students who struggle to come to school. At times, we have to develop an altered day for them. We try to provide them with opportunities to be more successful.”
    Students who will be eligible for the program will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, Bouchard said.
    Adding two new positions, in light of so many cuts that were made during the budget process, did not sit well with one school board member. Paul Cleary spoke out against adding new positions in such an uncertain economic climate. He was the only board member to vote in opposition to the positions.
    “Back in April/May, during budget discussions, we were slicing and dicing, cutting positions and transferring stuff to get into a budget,” Cleary said. “I just don’t think now is the time to be adding any new positions.”
    Cleary added he understands the value of the programs, but given the uncertain economy, adding positions was not a fiscally prudent thing for the board to be doing.
    “We have another budget ahead of us next year that’s going to be tough, if not tougher than this year,” he said. “Next year, when it comes time to make cuts, do we cut this program or cut more ed techs?”
    Board member Sandra Wilkins said she felt the district needed to make a commitment to the program.
    “I have seen the scenario with these kids and I think they need a chance,” she said. “If we have to cut next year, then I think we should look at the whole situation and make our cuts where needed.”
    Board member Cynthia Hillman-Forbush asked what the district was currently doing to help these students.
    Bouchard said the school alters programs to better meet the needs of students who are struggling. In some cases, a one-on-one individual is hired to work with the student or outside counselors are brought in to work with the child. Sometimes students are held back, while others times they might be candidates for the Carleton Project, an independent alternative education for high school students with sites in Houlton and Presque Isle.
    “For some, their whole lives are dysfunctional,” said Marion Gartley, special education director for the district. “We need to provide a safe haven for them if we are going to make any gains.”
    Houlton Elementary School Principal Candy Crane explained the goals for the elementary guidance counselor position. The counselor would cover HES, Houlton Southside School and Wellington School in Monticello, serving more than 700 students. There are currently no guidance services for students in these schools.
    The counselor will plan and manage the comprehensive school-counseling program in collaboration with the other district guidance counselors, Crane explained. The goal is to provide a program promoting student success through a focus on academic achievement, prevention and intervention activities, advocacy and social/emotional and career development to meet the need of the students and community.
    “I understand these economic times, yet I don’t want to lose one year as an opportunity for some child because that one year can make a difference,” Crane said. “I believe that early intervention is the key.
    In other agenda items, the board:
    • Approved the creation of numerous stipend positions for the music department. According to band director Joe Fagnant, many of the positions did not have an official title, and yet people have been filling the duties of the spots for a number of years.
    • Authorized the purchase of a new freezer for Houlton Elementary School to replace an original unit dating back to 1971. The custom-built freezer is estimated to cost $17,669, but funds for the unit have been set aside over the years by the kitchen department.
    • Agreed to a change in the district’s laptop insurance policy that will require all students to pay a $35 fee for insurance on their individual laptop. If the fee is not paid, the laptop will not be allowed to leave the school grounds.
    • Approved Joel Trickey as varsity hockey coach; and Matt McCluskey and Roger Brown as eighth-grade boys basketball co-coaches.
    • Accepted the resignation of board member Stephanie Lively as representative from Hammond. Lively was recently elected to Hammond’s Board of Selectmen and was unable to retain both positions.
    • Accepted the resignation of Robin Crone as a special education ed tech II at the junior high and letter of retirement from custodian Dale Swimm.
    • Hired Sarah Estabrook as a first-grade teacher at Houlton Elementary School and Sally Cole as a part-time reading interventionist.
    The next regular meeting of the SAD 29 school board is scheduled for Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. in the superintendent’s conference room.