Board approves new faculty for fall
Karen Donato
Staff/Writer
Superintendent Stephen Fitzpatrick and board members met at the superintendent’s office July 6 to approve newly hired faculty and to discuss other matters.
Chairman Brian McGuire opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance.
An extremely important budget meeting will take place for the second time in a month to educate taxpayers and the district citizens on the proposed school budget.
Fitzpatrick will be at Southside School at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14 to answer any questions from interested individuals regarding the $11.5 million budget. This budget was rejected by a surprise 80-71 vote after only 18 people showed up for the public meeting.
He said, “Voters need to attend the upcoming information and budget session for SAD 29. The budget, as proposed, is what the board of directors believes is necessary to maintain appropriate educational services for the district and it represents a zero increase to the taxpayers. It is a very sound package, fiscally responsible and conservative.”
Fitzpatrick is encouraging everyone to mark their calendars and participate in this very important meeting.
“It is up to the people of this district to insure their children have the best possible education available,” he said.
Following this meeting there will be a referendum vote on Tuesday, July 21. At that time residents will vote in their respective towns to validate the proposed budget.
Approved for hire were the following: Bruce Nason, athletic director at Houlton High School; Hollie McPartland, guidance director at Houlton Junior Senior High School; Veronica Holyoke, elementary social studies and ELA teacher at Southside School; Michael Hutchinson, Southside School instrumental music; Susan Pierce, guidance counselor at Houlton Junior Senior High School and Tim Gioud, varsity soccer coach.
The Houlton Elementary School PTO has requested approval to construct an outside basketball court and a tennis court adjacent to the elementary school. They will seek funding to cover the cost and the National Guard will assist in the preliminary groundwork in the spring. The plan was approved by the board.
Houlton Elementary School has received an additional two years of funding for their highly successful Reading First grant and plans are under way to maintain the program in the future.
“The students have made exceptional gains in achievement through this new approach to reading,” said Fitzpatrick.
The staffs at both, Houlton Elementary and Wellington School were commended for the work they have put forth in making this program so successful and Superintendent Fitzpatrick praised the dedication of the staff for completing graduate courses and workshops. He also noted the dedication of Principal Candace Crane and Literacy Interventionalist, Sally Cole. They and their team have worked diligently to fulfill the grant requirements.
A thank-you letter from the University of Maine was also read that complimented Sarah Estabrook, a SAD 29 instructor who taught a graduate course for teachers participating in the grant.
Special education teacher, Sherry Targonski also received a letter of recognition from the Maine Support Network for her expertise as an integral member of the Winter Design Team for professional development work.
Health Coordinator Lynn Brown and Food Service Director, Joyce Smith have been notified of their successful achievement of receiving more grant money to provide fresh fruit and vegetables for the district’s elementary students.
Board member, Cynthia Hillman-Forbush will have her name submitted to the state for a position on the Maine School Board Association in Augusta.
Renovations have begun at the high school for the first phase of the Houlton Community Arts Center.
There will be a meeting on Thursday, July 16 for board members, or any interested members of the SAD 29 school district to learn more about an alternative heat source, such as bio-mass wood boiler system for the high school. There will be a feasibility study done and an energy audit by McCormick Facilities Management Consultants of Dexter in conjunction with New England Energy Solutions.
The board approved nearly $105,000 for the reconstruction and pavement of the driveways and yard at Houlton Elementary School, accepting a bid from Steelstone Industries.
They also approved using approximately $91,000 from the capital improvement fund to complete the purchase of auditorium seats for the Houlton Community Arts Center. The community arts committee through donations and private funding will pay this money back to the district in the future.
Other items discussed were attendance policy for junior high students, the use of cell phones for elementary students and whether or not to continue to provide cell phones for some of the district employees, such as bus drivers and administrators. More discussion will take place on these matters.
The next regular school board meeting will be held on Monday, August 3, at 6 p.m. at the superintendent’s office located in the back of the high school.
