SAD 1 superintendent gives notice of retirement
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Though it came more than a year in advance, SAD 1 Superintendent Gehrig Johnson submitted his letter of retirement at last Wednesday night’s board meeting.
“As many of you are aware, this school year will mark my 30th year in my position as SAD 1 superintendent of schools,” Johnson wrote. “In consideration of the difficulty that school systems throughout Maine have been experiencing in filling the superintendent of schools position, it is my intent to provide you ample time to hire my successor.
“It is my intent to retire on Dec. 31, 2014,” the letter read.
Reluctantly, the board accepted Johnson’s resignation.
Also at the September meeting, directors were given an update on the summer projects that have been completed in the district.
Charles Anderson, business manager, reminded the board that district voters approved a bond referendum in June allowing officials to spend $2.3 million on repairs and renovations at all five of the district’s school buildings.
“Of the $2.3 million, about two-thirds or $1.45 million, are related to energy-saving projects as identified by Honeywell Building Solutions,” he said. “Based on what Honeywell projected, we would look to be saving around $270,000 a year by converting from No. 2 fuel to liquefied petroleum (LP) gas, installing more efficient lighting and insulation, and following a few other recommendations.
“The balance of the bond, another $850,000, is for non-energy-related projects,” said Anderson. “Those included things like security measures and hot top. So we have a piece of this bond issue that was designed to pay for the entire issue. We’re going to borrow $2.3 million long-term, or 10 years, and we’re anticipating we’ll save about $270,000 a year. We’re going to have to pay some interest, so over the 10-year period, we’re projecting that we’ll pay back $2.7 million and we’ll have saved $2.7 million, which is essentially a wash.”
Following additional discussion, directors unanimously approved a resolution to authorize the district to borrow $2.3 million in general obligation bonds through the Maine Bond Bank.
One of the security measures includes installing a “buzz system” at the elementary and middle schools.
“We want to secure the front doors of our buildings and lock them down, so to speak,” said Johnson. “We’re in the process of doing that, and it should be completed in the next couple of weeks. Essentially the front entrances at all schools — except the high school — will be locked at all times, and any visitors will have to be ‘buzzed in.’
“The office will have a monitor and the ability to lock every door in the building, as well as open and close the front door. The office staff will be able to see and speak to the person,” he said. “This is being done all over the state, and we think it’s a good safety measure. There will be those that feel it’s an inconvenience, but in the interest of safety, we felt this is an additional way to secure the buildings, and make them safer.”
Due to the number of entrances at Presque Isle High School, the decision was made to install the buzz system at the other schools first and evaluate its success.
“We’ll then look at doing something similar at the high school,” Johnson said. “The situation at the high school is different because we have so much traffic coming in from different directions because parking lots are spread out around the building. One entrance would mean a lot more walking [to get to that one entrance]. We’re going to explore it and make a decision at a later date.”
A letter will soon be mailed to all parents explaining the new security measure at each school.
Also at the Sept. 11 meeting, directors:
• Were notified that during the 2014-15 school year, it is anticipated that 10 Chinese students will be attending PIHS as part of the district’s ongoing initiative to establish a Presque Isle International School in Beijing. This will mean an additional $90,000 in net revenue to SAD 1.
According to the agreement, the joint experimental program’s goal is to learn from the philosophy, academic systems and management of an American high school, and prepare students for innovation, critical thinking and international communication.
The unique agreement was signed in 2011. PIHS students will soon be able to spend a semester in China, if they choose.
Johnson and Anderson will travel again to Beijing Oct. 18 to participate in opening ceremonies at a new international school. They will also meet teachers, students and parents in the program.
• Were informed that Kristi Greaves has been hired as a half-time pre-K teacher at Pine Street Elementary School (one year only). Greaves will continue to work half-time as a kindergarten teacher at Mapleton Elementary School.
• Accepted the resignation of Sharmon Clark, a special education teacher at Presque Isle Middle School.
The next SAD 1 board meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9 at Mapleton Elementary School.
