Quick takes provided by school administrators at Monday night’s SAD 61 School Board meeting — Stevens Brook opens with 271 students and 11 new hires; Songo Locks enrollment checks in at 425.

Lake Region Middle School Principal Matt Lokken reported enrollment at 447, eight new hires, search continues for a sixth grade math teacher (“the candidate pool is rather shallow,” Lokken noted, “We still have two days…[Yet] it was a good hiring season for us.”) so in the meantime, a permanent substitute teacher will be used.

Lake Region High School Principal Maggie Thornton reported the school has seen a surge in enrollment from 546 to 580. “A week ago, we had five new kids,” she said. “Over the last five days, we’ve had 26 new kids come in.”

An orientation session was held for exchange and new students and their parents, which included a “welcome” from staff, tours of the school and information regarding computers.

Thornton said the first day of school (yesterday) was aimed at having students “get their feet wet” while Day 2 would include a 45-minute pep rally.

Casco Director Phil Shane asked Thornton what the school had planned to address the growing problem of vaping.

“Students need to be aware of the dangers of vaping. I’m sure a number of them don’t watch the news. It’s a serious problem,” Shane said.

Thornton noted that as part of the Open House set for Wednesday, Sept. 18 (6 to 7:30 p.m.), there will be an Informational Parent Night from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. regarding vaping. The program is in collaboration with the Lake Region Substance Awareness Coalition and the Portland Tobacco Coalition.

“I hope there will be a huge turnout,” Thornton said. “It’s an epidemic.”

LRHS and LRMS students face a two-day in-school suspension if caught vaping.

Lake Region Vocational Director David Morse thanked Andy Madura (director of Transportation, Food Service and Maintenance) and his crew for their efforts in developing space for the new Early Childhood Development program, including installation of a kids’ playground. Morse says 25 students are enrolled, but is in need of children for the playschool program. It is open to three-year-olds. “We’ll shake some trees and see what happens,” Morse added.

Parents can call 595-0297 or 693-3864 for more information.

Enrollment spiked at LRVC, as well. Normally, the vocational center enrolls about 200 students from SAD 61 along with sending schools Fryeburg Academy and Sacopee Valley. This fall, the number is about 260, with a bulk of the new students coming from the Academy.

Special Services Director Lisa Caron called the transformation of the White House into special ed space as “amazing.”

“The space is unrecognizable,” she said of the changes made by Madura’s maintenance staff.

Special Service numbers open at 326, up 13 since June.

Jokingly, Madura opened his report “thanking” Superintendent Al Smith for all the work his crew had to tackle this summer (Smith later responded that it was certainly a challenging summer due to a number of projects, but it was also “very productive”). He credited the maintenance staff for their hard work to check off most items on the project list. He also pointed out that his staff greatly appreciated being recognized by Smith and School Board Chairman Janice Barter in their school opening comments. “You made them feel part of the team,” Madura said.

On the personnel front, Madura said he is still looking for a bus monitor, as well as substitute bus drivers. Anyone interested should contact Madura at 693-6467.

It was a busy summer as SAD 61 prepared 18,000 meals for several locations under the federal summer youth lunch program.

Finally, there will be new 15 mph lights on Kansas Road near the middle school, and SAD 61 will likely look to liquidate items no longer needed at the Crooked River facility by holding a yard sale (date to be determined).

“We’re off to a great start,” Smith added. “I’m excited about the direction we’re heading in.”

Athletic Director Paul True reported that fall sports teams have been practicing with 208 student/athletes on the fields and court.

“That’s about 10 shy from a year ago,” True said. “Once school starts, we will pick up another 12 to 15. We’re actively recruiting.”

Preseason action kicks off this Friday with the running of the Dan Dors Invitational cross-country meet, which will include seven teams. Girls open at 4:30 p.m., followed by the boys at 5 p.m. The Laker football team will host an exhibition against Lisbon at 7 p.m.

On the hiring front, True is still looking for a high school cheering coach and a middle school girls’ soccer coach. Anyone interested in applying can call Mr. True at 693-6221 ext. 231.

In other news:

Personnel. Directors approved the nomination of the following staff members:

William Schnitzer as a sixth grade Social Studies teacher at Lake Region Middle School, replacing Nina Spizuocco, who resigned. There were 10 applicants, three were interviewed. Schnitzer previously worked as an ed tech III/special education in Lewiston and was a student teacher at Lisbon Middle and Monmouth Middle Schools. He earned an associate of arts degree in business at Ashford University (Iowa) and a bachelor’s degree in History with a minor in English from the University of Southern Maine.

Alice Bradeen as a special education teacher (Day Treatment) at Lake Region High School, replacing Brian Jahna, who resigned. There were three applicants, two were interviewed. Bradeen previously worked as an ed tech III/special education in SAD 61. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from USM.

Jennifer Vitalis as a permanent substitute at Stevens Brook Elementary School, replacing Taylor Cronin, who resigned. She was the lone applicant. Vitalis previously was a teacher for close to 10 years at James Lyng High School in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Karre Kern as a social worker at LRMS, replacing Danielle Rowland, who transferred to LRHS.

Jennifer Smith as a special education teacher at Stevens Brook Elementary, replacing Kristina Crowley, who resigned.

Tara Sampson as a health occupations teacher at Lake Region Vocational Center (part-time position).

Madelyn Hanna as a SBES teacher, replacing Dayna Lambert, who resigned.

Daria Rosen as a library media technician at SBES, replacing Gretchen Audo, who resigned.

Elizabeth (Lisa) Usilton as a special education Day Treatment technician at LRMS, replacing Chris Marston, who transferred to SBES.

Leah Rottari as an elementary academic technician at SBES, replacing Skylar Cambridge, who resigned.

Erin Jackson as an elementary academic technician at SBES, replacing Angela Gronlund, who resigned.

Caroline Brown as a food service worker at Songo Locks Elementary, replacing Lori Andrews, who transferred to another position.

Angela Desrochers as a food service worker at LRHS, replacing Wendy Almlov, who retired.

Resignations (not already mentioned above) Sarah Lajoie as a special education ed tech at Songo Locks; Olivia Garland as an ed tech at Songo Locks; Lynn Nadeau as a special education ed tech at LRHS.

Seeing a relatively long list of resignations, with some coming weeks before the start of the new school season, Casco Director Phil Shane questioned, “why so many?”

“Every meeting, we have people resigning,” he said. Is it all about finding more money elsewhere, he asked.

Superintendent Smith said SAD 61 has seen staff work here for a couple of years, then move on to other areas such as Falmouth and Yarmouth, which can offer higher salaries.

“We can’t compete dollar wise with what they are being offered,” Smith said. “It’s unfortunate.”

Transferred. Allison Johnston has transferred from a special education ed tech at Songo Locks to a long-term substitute at Stevens Brook, replacing Tracie Peterson, who resigned.

Coach approvals included Brian Conroy as a Lake Region Middle School assistant football coach; Laura Pulito as a LRMS cross-country coach; Paula Grace as a seventh grade boys’ soccer coach; and Sean Murphy as a LRHS assistant football coach.

Next meeting of the SAD 61 School Board will be Monday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m., at Lake Region High School.