By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

One-by-one Monday night, SAD 61 principals and administrators via a “virtual” Zoom school board meeting talked about constant adjustments being made as the result of the Covid-19 shutdown.

It now appears, remote learning will likely extend until this school year ends in June.

In a “Priority Notice” released Tuesday night, Maine’s Education Commissioner Pender Makin recommended that remote/distance learning continue for the remainder of this school year.

“As you may know, U.S. CDC guidance recommends an eight to 20 week timeframe for avoiding large group/in-person instruction once there is evidence of community transmission of COVID-19. Therefore, I am recommending, with the support of the Governor, that you begin to plan to replace classroom/group instruction with remote/distance learning for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year,” Makin wrote. “It is difficult to make such a recommendation, recognizing the profound challenge of reinventing public education and the many culminating events and rites of passage that educators and students anticipate all year long. I also realize that this recommendation will be difficult for families to hear, given the challenges of childcare and managing school expectations on top of the other significant impacts of this state and national emergency.”

Makin believes it is extremely important for school leaders to have as much information as possible in order to best prepare educators, students and communities for a longer period of remote learning and to promote opportunities for redesigned celebrations and alternative ways to provide both continuity and closure.

“Please know that you’re not in this alone. The DOE team is available Monday through Friday – with daily ‘office hours’ for discussing and sharing challenges and solutions; free professional development offerings; an enormous list of online and ‘unplugged’ resources for every possible subject/content area, topic, and grade level; and as many resources as we can make available to you and your schools.”

Some additional points Makin touched on included:

SAT and student grades. “As you know, the SAT was used as part of our ESSA accountability assessment system, and we have received a waiver exempting us from the ESSA assessments. We will not be requiring, nor offering, the SAT to this year’s third year high school students, and we intend to invite educators and school/school administrative unit (SAU) leaders to assist us as we redesign a state assessment system that will authentically measure school success and student achievement in a more useful and meaningful way,” she said.

Makin has confirmed that the SAT is not required for admission, nor will it be required as a screener for any program, at any Maine college or university. In addition, Maine DOE is hearing that colleges and university across the country are following suit. 

“We also learned that UMS will be using a pass/fail system this year, including prerequisites for competitive and advanced courses, and that they recognize that students from the current cohort of applicants may also be receiving pass/fail grades. They are developing innovative and flexible admissions criteria and processes,” she said. “We have heard from many SAUs and schools who are using a variety of grading practices during this emergency education situation: some schools are maintaining grading practices, while others are implementing Pass/Fail. Some schools are only providing feedback instead of grades, and some are only including grades that improve a student’s overall GPA or academic standing. Ultimately this is a local determination, however we would encourage SAUs and regions to discuss and determine a system that holds harmless students for whom conditions are outside of their control.”

Enrolling new students: There are many students whose families are experiencing housing disruption or changes during this COVID emergency, and Maine DOE has had several calls regarding whether schools are expected to register new students if they move into a SAU. The answer is, “Yes.”  

“It is important to ensure there are directions that are publicly available on how new students can enroll during this pandemic,” she said.

Providing meals during April Break. Maine DOE has applied for and received approval for a waiver that will allow for SAUs to continue approved Unanticipated School Closure meal service operations during April Break. School systems can claim reimbursement for meals served at approved sites over the break on the days of the week you have been approved to serve.

Local transition to remote learning

SAD 61 school leaders understand the unexpected strain remote learning has on teachers, students and parents.

Elementary principals Cheryl Turpin (Stevens Brook) and Bridget DelPrete (Sono Locks) reported that they tried to create a “consistent” approach across K-5 focusing on choice and flexibility in regards to academic instruction. 

The formula has been three days of instruction — 30 to 60 minutes per day for children in grades K-2, and 60 to 90 minutes per day for grades 3-5.

The other two days focus is on family activities as ways to ease social/emotional stresses brought on by the stay-at-home order.

“We’re checking in with families once a week,” DelPrete said.

Principal Matt Lokken at Lake Region Middle School said students and teachers are getting into a “flow” in terms of remote learning, using the Schoology as one tool.

Lokken says the school week unfolds as follows: Monday is focused on social and emotional needs; Tuesday through Thursday, students spend 20 to 30 minutes with class teachers; Friday is when work is completed and extra help offered.

“Counselors are doing a weekly check in as a proactive way to reach out to kids and see how they are doing,” Lokken said.

A weekly newsletter is being sent out that includes a list of assignments students should be working on. Meanwhile, team leaders and faculty are holding Zoom meetings to evaluate how remote learning is progressing.

Principal Maggie Thornton at Lake Region High School said Monday through Thursday are academic days with class times being about 30 minutes with students having between two to three hours per day of screen time. Friday is a social/emotional day, in line with what LRMS is doing.

Thornton has created a Facebook page that includes updates. She reported that 300 people view the page on a daily basis.

Director David Morse of Lake Region Vocational Center credited his instructors for devising several creative teaching approaches. For example, construction students watched as their instructor tore down a ceiling and renovated a room. He pointed out that health occupation students have roughly just six to eight hours of clinical time to complete, and instructor Kathiann Shorey is prepared to oversee them complete that work this summer, if the need arises.

Adult Ed Director Madelyn Litz reported the program actually saw seven new students sign up — three for the diploma program and four for HiStep. Enrichment classes have been canceled for now, and the Adult Ed graduation set for June 10 could be pushed back (five students have completed requirements, while 15 others are close to achieving diplomas).

“We could extend graduation because we’re a year-round program,” Litz noted.

Director of Transportation, Maintenance and Food Service Andy Madura praised his staff for its efforts delivering educational materials, meals and disinfecting facilities and buses.

A piece of good news is a certain cleaning chemical SAD 61 uses does kill the virus according to the EPA, Madura noted.

One advantage SAD 61 had going into Covid-19 shutdown was being able to immediately create meal sites to distribute lunch and next-day breakfast items to all students ages 18 and younger. The district operates the sites during the summer as part of a federally-funded program. Madura said three school kitchens have provided between 1,800 to 2,000 meals per day since schools went into remote-learning mode.

To fill in weekend food needs, Madura said Bridgton Academy offered to cover a couple of hundred meals, while two local dentist offices also volunteered to assist with weekend food coverage. Hidden Valley Popcorn, a new business in Bridgton, gave SAD 61 2,000 packages of popcorn to include with lunches.

Finally, Madura pointed out that parents who were recently laid off can reapply for the free and reduced lunch program.

Director of Technology Joshua Sturk said his department has been very busy as SAD 61 shifted to remote learning, either providing assistance or repair of tech machinery (including student laptops).

“All of our tools have been taxed,” he said. “Schoology reported a 40% use increase, so there have been some connecting issues. But, everyone has been very patient,” he said.

Athletic Director Paul True remains optimistic about a spring season occurring, however, his colleagues have spent virtual meeting time looking at fall schedules.

“We’re in a holding pattern,” True said. 

Coaches have been given permission to reach out to their athletes regarding individual workouts, however, student-athletes are being discouraged from getting together as groups, for as long as the stay-at-home order is in effect.

“Our youth are struggling with that piece,” True admitted. “Our hope is that we’ll have more concise news in a couple of weeks.”

The news/recommendation as to how schools will proceed may have arrived Tuesday in Commissioner Makin’s priority notice. Stay tuned.