Difficulty finding substitute teachers and bus drivers, meeting the needs of students with behavioral needs, and accommodating band and chorus into school schedules took precedent during the Dec. 7 CSD school committee meeting.

A lack of substitute teachers and bus drivers is a problem throughout the state, including the Boothbay Region. “It’s a common hardship,” Boothbay Region High School Principal Dan Welch said. “If you know anybody who would like to work with high school kids in a really awesome place, we would love to have them.”

During his report, Welch acknowledged the importance of fitting band and chorus into the schedule. “There are so many facets,” he said. “But we’re going to tweak the schedule to give access to band and chorus. They haven’t been served properly.”

Boothbay Region High School Student Rep. Kate Friant reported that students are busy with winter activities. She singled out students Tyler Field and Jon Rollins, who will travel to the VEX Robotics tournament on Feb. 18, and commended student Faith Blethen for raising money toward fighting domestic violence. 

Boothbay Region Elementary School Principal Mark Tess had high praise for Assistant Principal Tricia Campbell's Climate and Culture Committee for establishing an atmosphere of kindness and respect in the school. “She won't take credit for it, but she's done a fabulous job,” Tess said.

BRHS Student Activities Director Allan Crocker announced that the school had received $2,500 from Special Olympics to form a “unified basketball team.”

“Students with developmental disabilities are paired with a partner without a disability,” Crocker explained. “We’re looking for a coach. It’s a nice venue for kids to train with their partners.” The BRHS team will be pairing up with Wiscasset to compete against other schools. “At the end of the year there is a non-competitive tournament,” he said. 

Special Services Director Lisa Smith has been busy looking into programs for students struggling with behavioral issues in regular classrooms. “It interferes with learning and sets kids up for a negative experience,” said Smith, who acknowledged that safety can be a factor. When that happens, Smith explained, students with behavioral issues might be placed in a program outside their immediate community. “That’s a significant cost,” she said.

Smith mentioned a couple of alternatives she has been exploring, among them, a program in Regional School Unit 12 in Chelsea. “With parental consent, they can send kids with significant behavioral needs to a school within the community that provides intense programming.” The school runs from kindergarten to fourth grade and focuses on social and emotional behavior. Another program, located in Fryeburg, works with first- to fifth-grade students, Smith said. “They have both a regular and special education teacher in the classroom. Primary focuses are listening and empathetic skills, as well as academic needs. These kids, who often end up ostracizing themselves because of their behavior, have a place to belong. I’m excited about planning pairing regular and special education efforts.”

AOS 98 Superintendent Eileen King reminded board members that some efforts to aid students have been underway. “Representatives from the school system, administrators, the YMCA, members of LincolnHealth, and The Coulombe Center for Heath Improvement meet on a quarterly basis regarding providing services for students,” she said.

King gave an update on the school budget and also handed out a 2017-2018 budget schedule. “We’re on track with our revenue. We have 60 percent to receive of our revenue. Our November revenue from the towns was $733,000, and revenue from the state was $51,000,” she said. “We have $5,700,000 remaining to come in. Our year-to-day revenue is $3,760,000.”

Regarding expenditures, said King, “We have 60 percent of our budget. November expenses were $752,000. We have $5,724 remaining. Year-to-date expenses are $3,698,000. We’re within our normal spending track,” King said.

Shawn Carlson, assistant superintendent, passed out policy changes to board members to go over before the next meeting, which will take place on Jan. 11 in the BRHS library.