Scarborough Public Schools
Weekly Newsletter - April 2, 2021
Message from the Superintendent
Dear Friends,
This week we had good news that anyone over sixteen years of age in Maine and older will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination starting April 7. This is timely, given that we have seen another surge with COVID-19 in Maine. As reported, Maine's seven-day daily case average increased to 232. On a daily basis we do our very best to stay abreast of current information that comes to us from the Department of Education. Continually evolving standards regarding distancing, travel, testing, and other COVID-19 related matters require us to monitor such possible changes. As changes evolve, we will keep you posted.
We are eagerly awaiting coming guidance from the Dept. of Education about the American Rescue Plan ESSER III funds, which are the latest Federal Stimulus funds to be provided for Maine schools. As we mentioned in the roll-out of our FY22 budget proposal, these funds will be included in our planning as we work toward full in person return for fall for all Scarborough students. While we have not yet been given all of the rules and regulations around the allowable uses of the ESSER III funds, we are hopeful to be able to consider creative options including use of off-campus facilities and increased staffing as needed to support our safe transition back to in-person learning.
Soon, we will be providing details about our plan to have a Reopening Planning Committees. New groups will be organized by phase level as we plan for fall.
Lastly, I remain optimistic knowing at some point we will see ordinary days again. As a result of these challenging times that we have experienced together, we will be stronger, wiser and continue to do what is best for our students.
Sincerely,
Sanford Prince
In Case You Missed It...
Authored and Co-Signed by:
- Scarborough Board of Education
- Scarborough District Wide Leadership Council
- Civil Rights Club
Click below to read the statement.
Travel Reminders- Stay Safe!
We have been receiving lots of inquiries about travel over the upcoming April break, and thought this would be a good time to remind everyone about current travel protocols. As you may be aware by now, on March 5, 2021, Governor Mills announced changes to the state travel requirements as follows:
Effective March 5: Travel from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island are exempted from Maine’s test or quarantine requirement, joining Vermont and New Hampshire. If you are traveling to a state not listed here or are traveling internationally, you must test upon return to Maine per the Governor’s order. Please be in contact with your school and send a copy of COVID test results to your school nurses prior to returning to school on April 26.
People who have either had COVID-19 in the previous 90 days, or are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, regardless of state of origin, are now exempted from Maine’s test or quarantine requirement.
Although vaccination rates are increasing across our state and beyond, risks of virus transmission are increased through travel and vacation activities, and as such please remain diligent about social distancing, hand sanitizing and masking.
We appreciate that we can count on all of you to stay safe for yourselves, your families, and our entire school community. Please feel free to contact us with any questions.
Vaccination Updates
Governor Janet Mills announced yesterday that all Maine residents age 16 and older will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine beginning next Wednesday, April 7, 2021. The acceleration of Maine’s vaccination timeline by a week and a half comes as Maine is expected to receive a significant increase in vaccine supply from the Federal government. Vaccination for residents age 16 and older had previously been scheduled to begin on April 19, 2021.The vaccine schedule is now as follows:
Now: All Maine residents age 50 and older
April 7: All Maine residents age 16 and older
As with all changes in eligibility, it will take some time for some vaccine clinics to begin to schedule appointments and administer COVID-19 vaccines. The Pfizer vaccine is authorized for individuals ages 16 and 17, but consent from a parent or legal guardian is required to vaccinate children. Get more information here on vaccinations for 16 and 17 year old Maine residents.
Weekly SPS COVID-19 Update
School Board Announces Hire of Upcoming Scarborough Superintendent
It is with great excitement that the Scarborough Board of Education announces that Mr. Geoffrey Bruno has been hired as the Superintendent for Scarborough Public Schools to begin July 1, 2021. Mr. Bruno has served as the Superintendent in Falmouth for the past 7 years. Prior to his move to Maine in June of 2014, Geoff spent most of his career as an educator in the greater Boston area, serving as a K-12 Executive Director for Curriculum & Instruction and Middle School Principal in Saugus, Assistant Principal in Hopkinton and Georgetown, and Head of School at Community Day Charter Public School in Lawrence, MA. Prior to taking on district and school leadership roles, Geoff taught middle school science and outdoor education.
The Board has the utmost confidence that Mr. Bruno’s experience and dedication to education will ensure that Scarborough Public Schools continues to be an outstanding place for our students to grow, learn, and thrive. The ability to attract a superintendent of such a high caliber reflects Scarborough’s long-standing commitment to excellence.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at boe@scarboroughschools.org.
FY 22 School Budget
Scarborough School’s budget for the FY22 year has been thoughtfully crafted with the intent of a return to full time, in person learning in the fall. Investments are focused on staffing to ensure academic, health, and social emotional needs can be met as students return from a year of hybrid and remote learning. A focus on staff will also put us in a better position should social distancing requirements not be reduced prior to the start of the 21-22 school year.
Nurses: The FY21 budget had specific funding to support Covid requirements by the Maine CDC to open in the fall, which included nurses at each building. This allowed us to have a nurse at each of our primary schools rather than one nurse who covered all three buildings. As this restriction has not been amended, we will be maintaining these positions in the FY22 budget.
Smaller Class Sizes: Due to social distancing requirements, we had fewer students in our classrooms. This allowed more direct interaction between the student and their teacher which has been very beneficial in their learning. As we bring our students back into the classrooms, we recognize there will be additional support needed to help them regain content areas in various subjects. We are adding five new staff members to ensure we maintain those optimum class sizes for maximum learning.
Bus Drivers: We will be retaining the three bus drivers added in the FY21 budget to support our students with the expectation of transportation services returning to normal in the fall.
Social and Emotional Learning: This year has been like no other, and we recognize all of our students may need additional support as they reenter the classroom in the fall. We are adding this support by increasing a part time social worker position at the high school to full time.
Special Education Changes: The Maine Department of Education has made an immediate change to state statute, extending the eligibility of our special education programming to students under IDEA, until their 22nd birthday. We will be adding two educational technician positions to support the change to the law and retaining one from the FY21 budget.
CALLING ALL SUBSTITUTES!
2021-2022 Kindergarten Pre-Registration
We are eager to welcome our newest Kindergarten students to Scarborough Public Schools! We are currently planning for Fall 2021 and will be able to release more information about what school will look like later this spring. If you have a child who turns 5 on or before Oct. 15, 2021 and you are considering sending them to school in the fall, please complete this form. Formal registration packets will be available on our website at a later date.
The information you provide is important for us to accurately plan for the number of classrooms, teachers and materials we will need in the fall. Please complete the form so we can contact you through email with updates and news about the 2021-2022 school year as the situation evolves and decisions are made. We will hold registration appointments at each school later in the Spring.
Spring Assessment News
- i-Ready Diagnostic for grades K-9: the window for this math and reading assessment is schedule for May 10 to 28. Planning is underway to identify whether or not to assess onsite at school or remotely as was done this past fall.
- Panorama Social and Emotional Learning Student Surveys for grades K-11: tentatively scheduled for April. This data will provide information on where we will target our efforts this spring and next fall. Survey information will be shared with parents.
- The Maine DOE has announced that the state testing, the MEA (Maine Educational Assessment) will be taking place this spring. Reading and Math for grades 3-8 and 11 and Science for grades 4, 8 and 11. For Reading and Math, the test is much shorter in duration with only two testing sessions required, both of which can be done remotely as they are online tests. The Science test though, will need to be done on site. There is more flexibility this year with special considerations for students available given the COVID-19 pandemic. The reporting will look different as well. We will keep you posted as additional information becomes available.
Data Corner
Images from Eight Corners School
Students Advocating for What They Care About
Engaging Mural, Encouraging Words
Upcoming SPS Events - Mark Your Calendar!
- April 7 - Town Manager & Superintendent's FY22 Budget Presentation
- April 14 - Town Council 1st Reading of FY22 Budget
- April 15 - Public Hearing on FY22 School Budget
- April 16 - No School
- April 19 - Patriot's Day - Central Office Closed
- April 19 - 23 - Spring Break
Fully Remote Preparedness Plans
Health & Safety
Please make sure you review the UPDATED Student Health Self Assessment questions EVERY DAY before sending your child off to school.
TOGETHER, we can make our schools as safe as possible!
Links to Our Schools
Services & Information
Spec. Services | Alison Marchese, amarchese@scarboroughschools.org
Food Services | Peter Esposito, pesposito@scarboroughschools.org
Athletics & Activities | Mike LeGage, mlegage@scarboroughschools.org
Curriculum I Monique Culbertson, mculbertson@scarboroughschools.org
Community Services | Todd Souza, tsouza@scarboroughmaine.org
Tech Support
For technology assistance with SPS student laptops, please send a message to techsupport@scarboroughschools.org and someone from Technology will be in touch to assist you.
Scarborough Schools
Website: www.scarboroughschools.org
Location: 259 U.S. Route 1, Scarborough, ME 04074, USA
Phone: (207) 730-4100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scarbmeschools/
Twitter: @scarbmeschools