MSAD #51 District Newsletter - March 23, 2023

From the Superintendent

On Monday night, I presented the MSAD #51 Recommended Fiscal Year 2023-24 Budget, which kicks off the public phase of the budget process. The public phase will continue until a budget is passed, hopefully on election day in June. This has been a challenging budget to develop, given inflation and large amounts of necessary priorities to address enrollment and space. The expenditure increase of 7.4% is more than in recent years, and the highest I have recommended during my tenure, but we have to continue addressing the implications of a growing school district. 

 

Though most of the costs for additional temporary classrooms (modulars) will be moved to reserve accounts outside the general fund, it is important to note that over the next 12 months the district will be spending over $2 million for temporary space and related costs. These funds are needed to reconfigure and accommodate space at MIW for the next 5 years, the earliest that a new school would be ready for occupancy after the failed primary school bond last November. In the interim, current and projected enrollment increases and lack of adequate space necessitate prompt attention and action. Additionally, a second cluster of modular classrooms and additional costs will need to be factored into the 2024-25 school year to address forecasted overcrowding at GMS for the next several years. 

 

FY 2024 Budget Process Timeline

Notices from the Office of the Superintendent

2023-24 School Calendar

• The majority of the annual district calendar is set on a regional level with several other area school districts that send students to PATHS. Per state law, schools sending students to a common vocational center may not net more than 5 dissimilar school days between them. Vacations, professional development days, and beginning days of school are all thrown into the mix as part of this process.
• This calendar includes a list of major religious and cultural holidays that is attached to the calendar for the first time this year out of respect and sensitivity for families observing these holidays. When these identified holidays occur on school days, we are committed to not scheduling important activities such as assemblies, field trips, testing, special events, etc. 
• Change next year at GHS: Grade 9 orientation will now be held on the scheduled first day of school without grades 10-12 in the building in order to ensure that all 9th graders and all staff are involved in this important transition to high school. This does not impact state law as we maintain the required 175 days for grades 10-12. In the past, we have held this orientation prior to the start of school, but it has been a struggle for some families who have vacation plans, etc. for their children to attend. This also prevented many of our staff from participating as well. This change does not impact grades 1-8, which will start on the first day as usual.
• The 2023-24 calendar mirrors the current one, with the first 3 weather-related cancellations made up in June as has been the tradition. Beginning with the 4th inclement weather day cancellation, schools would revert to remote learning without the need for making them up in June, as is our current practice. Remote learning days have become established in Maine as a way to provide a more predictable end of the school year given the variability of weather conditions. Many families and staff have summer commitments and desire a more consistent end to the school year, especially with summer camps, recreation programs, and vacation plans. Most area school districts now have remote learning days built into their school calendars in some way. In fact, with three traditional weather days built in, MSAD #51 has  the highest number of such days amongst area school districts in order to provide our students with as much in-person learning time as possible.

Superintendent's Report

The Town House Mouse

We want to thank the North Yarmouth Historical Society for its very generous donation of the book The Town House Mouse (written and illustrated by former MSAD #51 educators) to every classroom in grades K-5. Copies of the book can be purchased through the North Yarmouth Historical Society or at the North Yarmouth Town Office. 

Stay Connected

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YouTube Channel MSAD #51
 

MSAD #51 Board of Directors Information

All meetings will take place at 6:00 pm in the Gyger Room at Greely High School.  For those of you unfamiliar with that room, the Gyger Room can be accessed from the GHS parking lot (the side without the electronic sign).

April 3 - Workshop

Remember you can watch our meetings on YouTube LIVE (http://bit.ly/msad51livevideo).

Links
Meeting Dates, Agendas & Minutes
Board of Directors Meeting Videos

School Building Project Information

For comprehensive information regarding the School Building Project, please visit the project page at: https://www.msad51.org/apps/pages/building_project

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR LAND TO CONSTRUCT A NEW PRIMARY SCHOOL BUILDING

Maine School Administrative District #51 (MSAD #51) is requesting offers of land in Cumberland or North Yarmouth for the construction of a new Primary School to serve the students of these communities. A complete copy of the Request for Proposal and submission requirements can be obtained by contacting Scott Poulin, Director of Finance, Human Resources & Operations, Maine School Administrative District No. 51, 207-829-4800 or [email protected].

A complete copy of the RFP is available for download at: www.msad51.org/apps/pages/building_project
 

Community Partners

Our Community Partners are strong supporters of various areas of the school.  Without them, our students would not have many of the wonderful opportunities and experiences that they receive.

Interested in joining the Greely PTO?

PTO needs your help for Family Math & Literacy Night!

Teachers and staff at Mabel I. Wilson are busy planning a Family Math & Literacy Night on March 30th! As part of this great event, they are hoping to send every child home with a "New to Me" book. To make this happen, the PTO is helping to collect LOTS of gently-used books appropriate for PreK-3rd graders. You can send in book donations (picture, chapter, fiction and/or nonfiction) with your child by March 29th. Please make a note for them to be delivered to the Mabel I. Wilson book nook for Math & Literacy Night where they will be held until the event.

Trivia Night for 4th & 5th Graders - April 6! 

Community Notices

Community Notices are not affiliated with MSAD #51.  Please contact the organization directly with any questions.  For a full listing of Community Notices, please click HERE.

IB Information Night
 

Useful Links

Employment Opportunities

MSAD #51 Website

2018-2023 Strategic Plan

District Calendar

GHS Athletics Schedule

Greely Center for the Arts Events

If you would like something included in our weekly newsletter, please send a brief write up with title along with a JPEG or PNG image of your flyer (if applicable) to Melissa Porter for approval. The deadline each week is Sunday. Any requests received after Sunday will be reviewed for possible submission in the following week's newsletter. All approved submissions will be posted on the district's website.

Not all items in this email are MSAD #51 sponsored programs. If you need more information, please contact the group or organization that is sponsoring the event.