FAIRFIELD — A regular School Administrative District 49 school board meeting Thursday evening was relatively quiet compared to the heated, crowded Nov. 3 meeting, at which more than 100 Albion parents, teachers and staff members voiced concerns over a vote on the possible closure of Albion Elementary School that happened at an Oct. 20 meeting.

The item hadn’t been put on the public agenda beforehand, so some thought the school board wasn’t being transparent about its actions. The board voted 6-5 against putting a referendum out to voters asking whether to close the elementary school.

Thursday’s meeting focused on updates from around the district and contained only a few motions. Principals reported problems they were seeing in their schools and what they were doing to help students make progress. For example, Benton Elementary School has a goal of 97 percent daily attendance.

The board did discuss facilities during the committee reports, and board member Kara Kugelmeyer said the committee is drafting a letter to send to the public to notify them that the board is working toward consolidation.

Board Chairwoman Shelley Rudnicki also said that the board should compile a list of potential questions and answers before it begins holding public hearings on the issue.

Board member Ron Liberty said the board should decide what it wants to do and then start taking steps to do it.

The district already has applied to the state potentially to receive reimbursement funds for construction work on three schools: Albion and Clinton Elementary and Fairfield Primary, school superintendent Dean Baker said.

“The buildings have deteriorated and have issues with the current requirements, such as (the Americans with Disabilities Act),” he said.

It would be at least a year or so before the state announced a list ranking the projects that applied by priority.

In other business, the board voted 11-0, with one abstention, to apply for state approval of three new school buses for the next school year. Baker said the school really needs four, but because of budget constraints, the district is asking for three.

“Age, wear and tear on buses is a big issue,” Baker said. “It takes us a full student’s career to replace a bus.”

Last year the district asked for four buses and received funding for one from the state. Baker said this is another area in schools that is “severely underfunded.”

The board also approved the appointment of a new special education teacher at Benton Elementary School, 12-0.

“The supply of qualified teachers is not keeping up with demand,” Baker said. The position had been open for a while but the district just recently found a candidate.

Liberty later said he thinks the professionals the board appoints should come to the meetings so they can see them.

“If I’m going to vote on somebody, I would like to see them,” he said.

However, board member Terry Michaud disagreed and said that is what the board hires the administrators to do.

No one made a motion to change requirements.

Madeline St. Amour — 861-9239

mstamour@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @madelinestamour

Copy the Story Link