Sept. 8, Educate Boothbay's board chairman, Bruce Harris, announced that the place-based learning program is ready to launch due to a generous $400,000 donation. The announcement came in a Community School District (CSD) school committee meeting.

Under this initiative, a dedicated teacher will connect with community businesses and organizations to foster in-school guests, field trips or internships/work study opportunities. This service will be available to students in CSD schools, Southport and Edgecomb.  

The board also approved Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS) 98 Superintendent Robert Kahler to accept donations that meet criteria on its behalf. The CSD is accepting donations for Boothbay Region Elementary School to meet the about $7 million funding gap caused by the lawsuit delay and rising material/labor costs. If a naming request is attached to the donation, the matter will go to the board for approval.  

Families were reminded to complete this year's Economic Status Form. Maine Department of Education uses this confidential data to calculate state funding allotments. These subsidies are a large part of extracurricular funding, according to board member Jenn Whitney. The completion deadline is Sept. 25. 

In keeping with other high schools and universities, Dr. Mary Miller suggested the CSD include a Wabanaki land acknowledgement that honors local indigenous peoples as the original stewards of unceded land. Crafted in collaboration with the Wabanaki, the statement would be read during special events and included in the school's physical and digital assets.  

"This shows our commitment to inclusion, historical accuracy and community respect," Miller explained. She added that a unit on the Wabanaki has been added to the school's U.S. history courses.  

In other business, the board did a first read of several policies: Temperature Standards for Schools, IEPs, Child Abuse or Neglect Reporting, Prevention and Education, Procedure for Reporting Child Abuse, and Use of Physical Restraint.  

The board also continued work on creating an Election Day Exit Poll to gauge public opinion on Boothbay Region High School's future and the possibility of consolidation.  

Former runner Chase Brown and current cross-country Coach Nick Scott were elected to the Midcoast Sports Hall of Fame.

On the topic of sports, there was brief talk about bringing back the girls' softball team and, if so, whether it should be a club sport and the associated costs. The board floated taking stock of enrollment in current extracurriculars. 

Board member Mike Bartles was selected as a Maine School Board Association delegate.