Staff Writer
CARIBOU — The Eastern Aroostook School Board met on Oct. 7 for their regularly scheduled meeting; the agenda included topics such as the Caribou High School/Vocational School Energy Project, consideration of suspending attendance incentives at CHS and an update regarding the recent Maine Educational Assessment results. Boardmembers first approved senior privileges for Limestone students as well as approving items regarding the financing proposal for the ongoing energy project at the Caribou High School/Vocational School.
The board then considered suspending the attendance incentive at Caribou High School. It stood that students whose attendance met stringent requirements would be allowed to ‘skip’ final examinations; with a questionable flu season approaching and in regards to the H1NI virus, board members agreed on what was called an ‘obvious decision’ that it is in the best interest of the students, staff and faculty of the high school for students to be encouraged to stay home when they are sick rather than share their germs about the school. No alternate attendance incentive has been planned to date.
Building administrators Leland Caron, principal of the Limestone Community School; Susan White, principal of the Caribou Middle School and Tanya Belanger of Teague Park Elementary School presented the board with an update on the recent educational assessment results.
Last year, the Limestone Community School was one school placed under the requirements of a Continuous Improvement Priority School (CIPS) for reading and math. In the CIPS program, educators must show how they plan on improving test scores and show continuous improvement. Once a school is in the CIPS program, annual student test results must be above state standards or Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) for two consecutive years before the school can exit the CIPS program. The Limestone community school met the AYP standards this year; if students continue to test at or above AYP, the school will be removed from the program next year.
Last year, Teague Park Elementary School was on monitor status in reading due to AYP that was close to falling below the state set bar. This year, Teague Park is off monitor status for reading, but is currently under monitor status for math scores.
Caribou Middle School has been a CIPS school for the past five years, though state officials at the Department of Education have commented that CMS has been doing a wonderful job at showing continuous improvement.
In his superintendent’s report, Frank McElwain informed members of the board that Joe Sleeper has been named the volunteer assistant golf coach at Caribou High School. He also discussed with the panel members the idea of surveying students, parents and local agricultural employers to determine what the length of harvest break is necessary.
