October 17 Post

Two more weeks have passed since my last blog post.  Temperatures have shifted, and you definitely need those winter hats, gloves, and jackets to watch a full soccer or football game!  Maine's fall is entirely upon us.  I know everyone has their favorite seasons of the year - but mine is most definitely fall!  Apple picking, pumpkin carving, corn mazes, what a great time to live in such a beautiful state with so much bounty!  We are already most of the way through the first quarter of school!  Time marches on.  Please check out some photos from our schools over the past few weeks, and then we are on to the information!

FY 27 BUDGET SURVEY RESULTS SHARED!

Back in September, I invited staff, families, and community members to share their thoughts on the priorities that should guide the development of our FY27 school budget. As always, the Gorham community showed up—offering thoughtful, diverse, and constructive feedback that reflects how deeply our residents care about our schools. I’m excited to share a summary of that input and highlight some of the common themes that will help shape our next budget.

There were 339 total responses to the survey.  Twenty-four percent (24%) were from staff members, seventy-two percent (72%) were from Parent/Guardians, and sixteen percent (26%) were from community members.  When asked about their affiliated school, participants were equally distributed across all five schools. When asked about their most associated grade level, the largest percentage (34%) indicated the elementary level.

It is important to note that the survey link was shared with communities beyond Gorham via social media sites.  There were a total of 3,557 independent views of the T.E. Survey.  Of those, roughly 739 views came from outside our community (21%).  However, analysis of IP addresses using Thought Exchange revealed that most outside views did not complete the survey. The results outlined below represent the perceptions of our Gorham Community and no others.

Overall, the survey responses indicate a predominantly positive perception of the Gorham School District's performance. The data shows that 71% of respondents either agree or strongly agree that the district is doing a great job, while 77% are confident in the district's ability to support student success. Most participants, 86%, feel satisfied with the district's communication, and 56% view the school budget as adequate. 

Notable qualitative feedback highlights concerns about resource allocation, the need to maintain small class sizes, and the expansion of diverse educational programs. There is a strong emphasis on maintaining or enhancing current staff levels, technological infrastructure, and extra-curricular activities. Other highlights include:

- District Performance and Perception: Most respondents perceive the district's performance positively, with 71% expressing satisfaction. However, qualitative insights reveal some contention, particularly regarding priority areas for expenditure and the need to enhance educational programs to better prepare students for real-world challenges. Concerns about budget spending and the need for a more strategic financial approach were also mentioned.

- Communication and Community Engagement: Communication between the district and stakeholders is deemed effective by a majority, with 86% agreeing. Qualitative feedback suggests that while communication is generally effective, there's room for improvement and a desire for greater transparency.

- Budget Allocation and Financial Management: While 56% believe the school budget is adequate, some respondents (26%) feel it is too low, and 18% think it's too high. A high priority was placed on budget needs for facilities, staff retention, class size, and technology. Some feedback suggests concerns about effective resource allocation, with emphasis on equitable distribution across different student groups being mentioned.

- Educational Programs and Resources: Key areas for budget prioritization include facilities, staff retention, class size, technology infrastructure, extracurricular programs, school safety, career & technical education, and special education, with 100% of respondents recognizing the importance of each. While confidence levels in the district supporting success for all students is high (77% agree or strongly agree), some qualitative feedback indicated worries about resource distribution and the need for a broader range of educational services.

The top five priorities for the FY 27 budget development process were as follows:

1. Better addressing the needs of special education students.

2. Enhance/strengthen mental health services for students.

3. Maintain and look to expand the Arts and Co/Extra Curricular programming.

4. Improve school infrastructure and safety.

5. Maintain small class sizes and adequate staffing.

Certainly some excellent food for thought! If you want to view the FULL SUMMARY of results, please CLICK HERE.

THANK YOU to those who participated and shared their thoughts with us. These results will be used in our continued work to define our district priorities for the FY 27 budget development process.

GORHAM SCHOOLS #17 FOR BEST PLACES TO WORK IN MAINE - LARGE EMPLOYER!

Since earlier this fall, we knew we had been selected as one of the top 30 "Best Places To Work In Maine" for 2025, but we didn't know exactly where we ranked within that top 30. Last week, we discovered that we ranked #17, which is no small feat! We were ranked among 30 other large employers in ME (those that employed 250+ staff) and beat out solid organizations such as TD Bank, Colby College, and Hussey Seating. Even better, we improved in our overall staff rating scores from our last participation in this program in 2023!

For us, the most critical part of the Best Places to Work process is the survey, which provides us with invaluable insights into staff perceptions. This data enables us to recruit and retain the best talent for our schools, ensuring our students receive the highest quality education while reducing overall costs.

If you want to see the full list of winners across all categories this year, please CLICK HERE. If you want to review a summary of the Gorham Specific survey data results from this year compared to 2023, please CLICK HERE.

AN OPEN THOUGHT EXCHANGE TO INFORM FUTURE BLOG POSTS

In my previous blog post, I shared my overall goals for the 2025-2026 school year. One of those goals was to improve two-way communication across our schools. As part of this goal, I am creating an open Thought Exchange link in this blog and will re-post and share it for future blogs, aiming to create a rolling conversation with interested individuals.

Each month, I use this blog to share updates, celebrate our schools, and open the door for honest conversation. As I plan for next month’s post, I’d love to hear directly from you — our families, staff, students, and community members — about what topics matter most.

What questions do you have about our schools? What stories or issues would you like me to highlight in future blogs?

Please take a few minutes to share your ideas in this month’s Survey. Your input helps shape the conversations we have together and ensures that this blog reflects what’s most important to our community.

https://tejoin.com/scroll/301628126

In order to give me time to respond to questions or topics for my next blog post planned on Oct. 31, I'd ask that you complete the survey by Oct. 29.  I will then close this survey and re-open a similar one every two weeks to keep the conversation flowing via this blog! 

Thank you for being such an engaged and thoughtful part of the Gorham Schools community!  I can't wait to hear what you are curious and want to learn more about! ☺

PARENT TIPS FOR PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES!

Parent/Teacher Conferences are coming up here in Gorham NEXT WEEK! We so love this time of year! Our schools typically have excellent participation from families with many schools seeing close to 100% participation rates! It is so important that we take the time to touch base with one another during fall conferences to make sure your child(ren) have gotten off to a great start in the school year!

Each year building principals and teachers get together to prepare for Parent/Teacher Conferences. As educators we think about the structure of these conferences, what information should be shared, how it should be shared, etc. etc. etc. Long story short - we prepare and we plan to make sure Parent/Teacher conferences are successful.

As I was reviewing some of these materials the other day, I thought to myself - Well - who helps parents plan for Parent/Teacher Conferences?

Good question right? I mean as a school we send out links for parents to sign up, we provide guidance and expectations for what to expect, but we don't really help prepare parents for Parent/Teacher Conferences. So I thought - hmmm...there must be some good guidance out there somewhere that parents can review and use to think about as you prepare for conferences that will help YOU get what you need out of the brief time you have with your child's teachers.

I found several great resources I thought I'd share. Please feel free to wander through the links below, use the things you like, ditch the things you don't! At the end of the day, Parent/Teacher Conferences are about strengthening partnerships between schools and families. As long as that goal is accomplished, the rest is "gravy"!

- On this resource for the great state of Colorado, there is a really great "Checklist for Parents" to do with their children before their conferences, during conferences and after conferences.

- This resource from New York state provides a great "starter list" of 15 questions parents should ask during parent/teacher conferences. It also shares some suggestions for parents regarding what to do ahead of the conferences, during and after similar to the first resource link above.

- This resource from Child Mind Institute provides some additional great preparation tips but it also includes some great resources to better understand the research behind why we do conferences in the first place.

These are just a few resources I found online.  I"m sure there are many others.  At the end of the day we all know that Parent-teacher conferences are an essential opportunity for families and educators to come together in support of each child’s learning and growth. These conversations allow parents to hear firsthand how your child is progressing academically, socially, and emotionally, while also sharing valuable insights about your child’s interests, strengths, and needs at home. By working in partnership, families and teachers can identify goals, celebrate successes, and develop strategies to help students thrive. Most importantly, these conferences reinforce that education is a shared effort—when parents and teachers communicate and collaborate, students benefit.

I hope you all feel a little more prepared now! See you next week!☺

A REMINDER ABOUT WEATHER RELATED SCHOOL CANCELLATION PROCESSES

As the weather begins to get colder and colder, I wanted to just remind families that we have a page on our website dedicated to helping you know what to expect in the event that schools are canceled because of weather.  Our "Storm Day Information" page is a great resource to read and review.  

A few key highlights to understand:

1.  We utilize full day cancellations, early dismissals, and late start days to try and help us to best navigate Maine's sometimes challenging winters.

2.  We have FIVE (5) snow days built into our school calendar.  As we go through the year we will use these five days as "traditional snow days".  However, once those 5 days are exhausted if we need to cancel school due to weather we will then consider using at home learning or what folks lovingly refer to as "remote learning" days.  As we get into the winter, and as we see the need to possibly use remote learning days we will send specific materials home so you know what to expect and plan for.

3.  Predicting Maine's weather is hard, even for professionals.  We will always do our best to make the right call, however if you as a parent ever feel as though your child's safety is at risk to drive to school you always have the final say.  Just let us know.

I encourage you to visit the link to our storm day information page above to learn more and reach out to your school or to me with any questions you may have.  That white stuff tends to sneak up on us! ☺

OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH!

Each October, communities across the country come together to shine a light on breast cancer awareness — a time dedicated to education, prevention, and hope. While Breast Cancer Awareness Month began in the mid-1980s as a way to encourage women to get screened, it has grown into a powerful global movement that reminds us all of the importance of early detection and community support.

In Gorham (and in schools everywhere), this month offers a chance to do more than wear pink — it’s an opportunity to learn, to care, and to stand together. Many of our students, staff, and families have been touched in some way by breast cancer, and through awareness efforts we help ensure that no one faces this journey alone. By talking openly, sharing resources, and participating in events that raise funds for research and patient care, we model compassion and civic responsibility for our students.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month reminds us that small actions — scheduling a screening, offering a kind word, wearing pink, or donating to a local cause — can make a lasting difference. 

A REMINDER TO VOTE ON NOVEMBER 4! 

Just a quick reminder to everyone to get out and vote (if you haven't already done so) on November 4! In direct relation to the school, we have two items on the ballot.

One is our annual election of School Committee members. We have two open seats for 3 year terms and one open seat for a one year term. Please be sure to do some research and vote for who you think would best serve our schools. Candidates are:

- For the 3 year term: Jeffrey Ballard and Lowansa Tompkins

- For the 1 year term: Paulette Tateishi

You can view the candidates's forum to learn more about each of these candidates to help inform your vote.

The second item on the ballot related to the Gorham Schools is a request for a re-allocation of already approved bond funds for three capital projects. The question from the sample ballot is below:

A one page (back to front) informational sheet has been created and can be viewed by CLICKING HERE.

I've also included a quick Q&A below using frequently asked questions I've heard about the project to help inform voters.

Question: Is this question asking for more money from Gorham taxpayers?

Answer: No. This question asks only to RE-ALLOCATE funds that had been approved in November of 2024 to new projects that were not part of that original referendum request.

Question: How can we RE-ALLOCATE those funds? Does this mean those projects approved in November of 2024 won't be completed?

Answer: No. The projects approved in November 2024 were (1) Narraganstt HVAC renovations and (2) GHS cafeteria and modular expansion projects. The Narragansett project has been completed and the GHS cafeteria and modular expansion projects are both fully bid out and well along in their completion. The scheduled completion date for the GHS projects is fall of 2026.

Question: If all the projects approved in November 2024 are either completed or fully funded for completion, how do we have $2.5M "leftover" from those projects? That's a lot of money to be off in estimating project costs isn't it?

Answer: That is a lot of money to have remaining from the projects as they were originally designed, but there is a solid explanation for the remaining funds. The major reason for the remaining funds is that we estimated the overall project costs for the GHS projects with one design, but we actually wound up going with a different design that saved a considerable amount of costs. The key difference was in the design of the modular expansion. In our original designs we replicated what we had done at Narragansett under an old interpretation from the Maine Department of Education as to what a "modular construction" had to be in order to qualify for reimbursements. After the bond had been approved by voters, we became aware that the MDOE had become more flexible in their interpretation of what a modular construction could be, allowing us to change the design of the project to build the structures on site so long as they were moveable. In the past, modulars had to be constructed off site, moved to the site and be able to be moved again in order to qualify. As you can imagine, we were able to save significantly in transportation costs and other building costs as a result of being able to design the project differently. This is where the vast majority of savings comes from in the November 2024 project estimations.

Questions: Why shouldn't we just give these funds back to taxpayers instead of using them on more projects?

Answer: We could, in fact not expend these funds in our November 2024 bond and therefore bond fewer dollars as a result. However the additional three projects are still much needed projects and if we didn't do this re-allocation we would have to request them in a seperate bond request which would require more funding for legal fees associated with a new bond. It would also require additional time, which likely means increasing the total estimated costs for each of the three projects to be completed.

Question: Why are these three projects important?

Answer: The GHS track and field project would allow us to renovate the existing track and field which is in very bad shape. Right now we are not able to host meets on the track because of its poor and unsafe conditions. If left as is, within the next year we will likely have to greatly limit even practices or use of the track for our PE students and community members as a result of the poor safety conditions. The Narragansett ADA and Sprinkler project is needed because the section of sprinklers were looking to update are past their useful life, and aging quickly. These sprinklers were part of the original construction back in the 1980's and are in significant need of repair. If we don't do this as a planned project soon, it will likely become a much more expensive unplanned project. The ADA components of this project will allow greater access for students, staff, and community members to the Narragansett school. The bathrooms that are slated to be renovated as part of this project are not handicapped accessible. The final series of projects related to Great Falls and Village are significant needs due to safety concerns. The Great Falls portion of the project would renovate an existing firelane that is in disrepair and needs to be upgraded so that emergency vehicles can access Great Falls in the event of an emergency. The Village project would cretate a connector road to the Village School Site which would allow two significant safety issues to be addressed. The first is access for emergency vehicles in the event of an emergency. Right now there is only one way in and one way our of Village so in any emergency, vehicles would be fighting over access. Secondly, on a daily basis we would be able to seperate out passenger car traffic from bus traffice coming in and out of Village Elementary School. Right now with just one way in and one way out, parent cars are competing with buses, with pedestrians, and others to access the site. Creating a second point of egress would address these safety concerns.

Again, please get out and vote November 4!

COMMUNITY EVENT REMINDERS

Check out some of these events coming up...

That's it for this blog post!  Next one will be October 31st!  Hopefully you will participate in the survey above to help drive some topics for that one!  Have a great weekend everyone!

  

October 3 Blog Post

We have had a beautiful stretch of weather recently, but fall is most certainly in the air as we continue to move forward through the first month of school.  As we settle into the daily routines and structures of our school day, learning is most definitely "heating up" for our students across the PK-12 spectrum.  Take a look at the pictures below to get a sense of the great things happening in our schools, and then proceed to the information.

RECENT USE OF EMERGENCY PROTOCOLS...

Yesterday, for the second time this month, three schools in our village area were placed in Secure status due to a planned police action nearby. This step was taken out of an abundance of caution—there was never a direct threat inside our schools. Thanks to the excellent communication from the Gorham Police, we were able to respond quickly and keep the students safe. We are fortunate to have such a strong partnership with our local law enforcement.

I know that having two such incidents early in the school year may feel unsettling for families, staff, and students. That feeling is normal. A bit of worry helps us stay alert and focused—which is exactly what we want when it comes to student safety. Each situation also provides us with the opportunity to learn and improve our practices.

Clarifying Emergency Terms

One area of confusion we’ve noticed is around terminology. Different words mean very different levels of response, so it’s important to know the distinctions:

• Hold – Hallways cleared (e.g., medical emergency).

• Secure – Potential threat outside the school; learning continues indoors.

• Lockdown – Threat inside the school; staff and students follow A.L.I.C.E. safety options.

• Evacuate – Everyone leaves the building (e.g., fire, gas smell).

• Shelter – Used for severe weather, chemical spills, or similar hazards.

So, for example, a Secure is proactive and preventative—it is not the same as a Lockdown, which would be used for a much higher-level threat, such as an active shooter.

How We Communicate in an Emergency

Our communication protocols remain the same:

• Individual student injury – Parent/guardian receives a personal phone call.

• Emergency with no direct threat – Families receive email/text updates.

• Emergency with direct threat – Families receive phone calls, texts, and emails with clear instructions.

If you receive all three message types, it signals the most urgent situation. In those moments, please do not rush to school—it can interfere with emergency responders, and your child may already be at a safe alternate location.

Learning More

We want families to feel informed and confident in our safety protocols. Each building principal will soon host a P.I.E. (Partners in Education) meeting focused on emergency response. Please attend and bring any questions you may have.

Your children’s safety is our highest priority. Thank you for your continued trust and support as we work together to keep our schools safe.

THE IMPORTANCE OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE CONTINUED...

Throughout the course of this school year, I plan to continue sharing information and resources with families on the crucial theme of school attendance.  In an earlier post, I highlighted the importance of school attendance.  As a quick reminder, here are the highlights of why school attendance is so important to students:

-  Learning Builds Daily.  When students miss a day of school, they miss an opportunity to continue building.

-  Connections are Important.  When students attend school regularly, they build strong relationships with teachers and peers

-  Habits now are Habits later!  When students develop the habit of attending school each day, even when they may not feel up to it, they are cultivating healthy work habits that will serve them well later in life.

-  More Opportunities.  Research is clear: higher achievement scores and higher graduation rates are clearly associated with good school attendance.

As we begin to enter the height of cold/flu season in our state, I wanted to help families answer the always-nuanced question of 'When is my child too sick for school?'  We know you want to send your child to school each day, which is what we want too. However, with all the messages about the importance of attending every day, there is also a balance to be struck in knowing when you should keep your child home due to illness.  

The following flyer, created in collaboration with Count Me In, an organization dedicated to increasing school attendance across the state, and produced by the National Association of School Nurses, is a valuable resource for parents seeking answers to this important question. In Gorham, we simplify things by using 100 degrees for the temperature rather than 100.4, as mentioned in the flyer below. Still, otherwise, the information contained in the flyer is directly aligned with the advice we share with families here in Gorham when they have to make this difficult decision on the fly.

If you need to keep your child home from school due to illness, please call your school's office to report the absence and notify us that your child is sick.  If you have questions, please follow the advice in the flyer and reach out to your child's healthcare provider, use a local urgent care facility, or feel free to call your school's nurse to help answer any questions you may have regarding your child's health.

To be clear, we want your child in school each and every day.  We MISS THEM when they are gone.  However, we also understand that children get sick, and sometimes it is better to keep those germs at home than to bring them to school and share them. ☺

NOVEMBER 4 REFERENDUM QUESTION REGARDING SCHOOL CAPITAL PROJECTS

On November 4, Gorham voters will see a school-related question on the ballot. This is not a request for new taxpayer funds. Instead, it asks permission to re-allocate savings from two projects approved in November 2024 to support three new projects in 2025.

Where are the savings coming from?
Two projects were approved in 2024: the Narragansett HVAC upgrade and the GHS cafeteria/modular expansion. The HVAC project is complete, resulting in approximately $100,000 in savings. The GHS project is underway and on track for completion by fall 2026. By adjusting the modular design to allow units to be built on-site rather than off-site, we reduced costs without compromising quality, resulting in approximately $2.4 million in savings. Both projects will be completed as promised.

What if voters don’t approve the reallocation?
The three additional projects are still needed. Without reallocation, we would need to seek approval through a new referendum, which would add time and extra costs to the process.

Please reach out with questions if you have them, and BE SURE TO GET OUT AND VOTE ON NOVEMBER 4!

FALL PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES COMING SOON!

Fall parent-teacher conferences are an essential opportunity for families and educators to come together in support of each child’s learning. These meetings provide parents with a chance to learn about their child’s academic progress, strengths, and areas for improvement, as well as to gain a deeper understanding of classroom routines and expectations. Conferences also enable teachers to gain a deeper understanding of a child’s interests, learning style, and any external factors that may impact their academic success in school. Most importantly, these conversations strengthen the partnership between home and school, ensuring that we are all working together to support each student’s growth and well-being.

Fall parent-teacher conferences will take place in Gorham during the week of October 24. You should be receiving notifications from your child's school with directions on how to sign up online for your conference time! If you haven't received anything yet, please feel free to contact your school's office to inquire about it. Our Schools ALWAYS have great participation with fall conferences, and we LOVE IT! We can't wait to see you and share with you all the great things your children are doing and learning in our schools!

NEW FINE ARTS BOOSTERS ORGANIZATION IN GORHAM!

Please see the message below from the newly formed Gorham Fine Arts Boosters Group!

The Gorham Fine Arts Boosters was recently established as a non-profit organization and is now in its inaugural year, supporting the fine arts across the Gorham School System.

We welcome anyone interested in promoting and enhancing the arts to join us! Meetings are held on the first Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Gorham Middle School Band Room.

 

If you’d like to get involved or have questions, please email us at gorhamfineartsboosters@gmail.com.

 

Upcoming Meeting Dates:

·        Monday, October 6, 2025

·        Monday, November 3, 2025

·        Monday, December 1, 2025

·        Monday, January 5, 2026

·        Monday, February 2, 2026

·        Monday, March 2, 2026

·        Monday, April 6, 2026

·        Monday, May 4, 2026

·        Monday, June 1, 2026

 

We hope to see you there!

 

Sincerely,

The Gorham Fine Arts Boosters Board

GHS HOMECOMING WEEKEND IS COMING SOON!

Gorham High School will be hosting its Homecoming weekend on the weekend of Oct. 17!  Coming up very soon!

The GHS student council is planning some fun spirit days, Oct. 12-18, so stay tuned for details in Mr. Jandreau's weekly updates to know what to prepare for!

Many of our athletic teams will also be hosting home games during that week, so be sure to check out the athletic schedule online for details and come cheer for the home team! There will also be a homecoming pep rally on Friday, October 17, preceding the football game later that evening.  

Finally, what I know our students are really waiting for - the Homecoming dance will be held on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.  

Our students have so much "RAM PRIDE," and this week will be the week to show it off! 

SUPPORT OUR LOCAL REED ALLEN COMMUNITY FUND!

I'm not sure how many people in the Gorham community are aware of this incredible non-profit organization, which aims to support individuals, families, or businesses in need in Gorham following a catastrophic event.  If you aren't aware of this organization, please check out their website LINKED HERE to learn more!

The organization is hosting two key fundraising events, scheduled for October 17 and November 1.  Please see the flyers for each event below and mark your calendars to attend!  You will be helping your neighbors by doing so!

LOOKING FOR SOME LOCAL OCTOBER FAMILY EVENTS - HERE ARE A COUPLE!

That is it for this blog post!  The next one will be on October 17!  Enjoy your weekend!

September 19 Blog Post

Good morning everyone!  Has it already been two weeks since my first blog post for the 2025-2026 school year?  Things have gotten off to a fast start here in the Gorham Schools, and we are already "rock'n'-n-rollin'" with our learning across all five schools!  Check out some pictures below, and then we are on to the important information!

SUPERINTENDENT'S GOALS FOR 2025-2026

Each year, the Gorham School Committee works in partnership with the Superintendent to set a focused set of annual goals—typically four to six high-priority tasks that guide our collective work. These goals serve as a roadmap for our schools, helping us align resources and energy so we can fulfill our mission to “Prepare and Inspire” every student for future success.

Sharing these goals with staff, families, and the wider Gorham community keeps our work transparent and invites collaboration. The priorities outlined here cannot be accomplished by any one person or department; they depend on the commitment and expertise of many hands across our schools and community.

Below you’ll find an overview of our top five goals for the year, and you can view the full document [linked here] for more detail on specific timelines and planned action steps. We welcome your questions, feedback, and partnership as we work together to achieve these shared aspirations.

Our current Metrics for Success were created and approved by the Gorham School Committee during the 2021-2022 School Year.  We have been operating with the current metrics for the success document for three full school years now, and I believe it is time to review and “refresh” to ensure alignment with our mission/vision and core beliefs about learning.  

Once our metrics are revised, I would like to work with our data coordinator to develop a method for more effectively sharing this information with the community.  I will work with her to create a new “data dashboard” that can be placed front and center on our website.  This dashboard will show the highlights of our metrics and where we are with trends for our “top five” key data points.  As we saw last year, being able to quickly and easily share the narrative of how our schools are doing in more than just a single test score is important and helps the larger community know that we measure the success of our schools strongly and in multiple ways. 

Transparency leads to trust, and we need trust more than ever!  This will be a crucial goal to achieve in the coming year.

When AI began to make its way into public schools, the Gorham School Department created an initial set of AI guidelines to help staff better understand how we wanted AI to be utilized in our classrooms.  Our initial approach has been to incentivize teacher learning and experimentation with AI so that they can better understand the various ways in which AI may be used to improve instruction.

After more than a year of focused experimentation across our schools, we are now ready to take the next steps in strengthening our guidelines regarding the use of AI in our classrooms.  We will work to create a set of frameworks, guiding principles, initial goals, guiding questions, resources, and methods to measure success in the work for teachers that can be used to safely utilize AI in our classrooms to enhance student learning.  These new guidelines will provide the foundations necessary for our classrooms to safely harness the power of AI to amplify human connection and strengthen student learning across all schools.

The Bright Futures for Little Rams Report was finalized in the spring of 2022. This work was a comprehensive effort involving stakeholders from across the Gorham community interested in strengthening and supporting early childhood education in our community across multiple platforms.  

It was this document that launched the Gorham School’s work to create a public Pre K system, offering universal public Pre K to all Gorham families eventually.  Narragansett Elementary School, in partnership with the Gorham Arts Alliance and Seedlines to Sunflowers, launched its initial programs in the fall of 2023.  Since then, we have brought on two new partners in House of Parker LLC and Imagination Station - both high-quality early childhood programs operated in Gorham.  In those two years, we have gone from having no public Pre K slots in Gorham to now serving 126+ Pre K students in Gorham.  

Additionally, since that time, the state of Maine has passed legislation that will transfer the FAPE (Free and Appropriate Education) responsibilities for three- and four-year-olds to individual public schools across the state. Yes, this includes Gorham.

Much is changing in the world of early childhood, and Gorham as a community must continue to lead the way in developing community-based systems that strengthen our programming for early childhood education for all eligible children.  It is time to “brush off” the broader recommendations of the “Little Rams” report and come together to make more of its recommendations a reality for our children and families.

That is the purpose of this goal.

When the legislature approved the supplemental budget in the spring of 2023, part of that budget included language that requires public schools to provide Free and Appropriate Educational Services (FAPE) for all 3- and 4-year-olds in the state.  Previously, a separate governmental agency called Child Development Services (CDS) was responsible for providing FAPE to eligible 3- and 4-year-olds and their families.  Public schools have four years (2027-2028 school year) to assume full responsibility for FAPE services for this age category.  This shift in responsibilities will be significant. 

Ultimately, this move is a good one, as CDS has not provided full services to this age level for several years now, and our public schools have been paying a high price for per-pupil costs as a direct result. With improved early services, the same outcome can be achieved as with our work to create a strong Public Pre-K program: that services can be provided earlier, more effectively, and at lower overall costs than the current ineffective system. 

That being said, a great deal of work went into initial planning during the 2024-2025 school year.  Initially, we had thought that this work would be something we would focus on on our own; however, during the course of our work last year, we began looking first at what we could do regionally via the GSEA.  The idea being that we should determine what we can do collaboratively together to reduce overall costs, and then what we need to plan on doing on our own to meet state and federal FAPE requirements.

We established a working group that began to make these determinations, and this is where I want to pick up with this goal moving forward.  Ultimately, by the end of this school year I’d like to have a solid plan developed with the GSEA regarding what we will do collaboratively to meet these requirements and then utilize the following year (2026-2027) to plan what we need to have in place as an individual SAU so that by the time 2027-2028 rolls around we are ready to hit the ground running.

Therefore, this year’s goal is specifically focused on the remaining GSEA work.

Rampant misinformation, political polarity, and difficulty with civil discourse.  This is not a judgment on our society; it is simply the reality of the environment in which we currently live.  Ignoring this and wishing it would go away are not proactive or productive approaches to leading an organization whose mission is so critical to the success of our community.

Communication in the Gorham Schools is already a strength, but we can continually improve.  First of all, our communication is often one-way (outward) when we need to work to strengthen methods for offering two-way communication so that stakeholders (which should strongly include our students) can let us know what they are thinking, what they want our public schools to look like and be like for our children, etc. We need to improve our methods to allow stakeholder voices to be heard and incorporated into our decision-making processes.   

Secondly, even our outward communications tend to overlook a large segment of the community that is not directly connected to our schools. Families whose children are not yet in school, retired community members, and others also need to know what their investment in our public schools contributes to our community as a whole.  

This year’s goal will focus on continuing to strengthen our “outward” communications to all stakeholder groups, while also building and constructing stronger methods for gathering feedback and community voices to inform better decision-making in our schools.

Those are the five key goals for the 2025-2026 School Year! You can also click on the link provided above to read more details about specific action steps and timelines for these goals. I look forward to working together with all stakeholders to successfully complete these goals!

YOUR FEEDBACK IS NEEDED TO INFORM FY 27 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES!

Speaking of trying to improve 2-way communications (Goal #5 above)...we have just recently launched a Thought Exchange Survey that allows staff, parents/families, and community members to provide critical feedback that will help shape our budget priorities moving forward. This survey is open to all staff, parents/families, and community members of Gorham! So far, we have had 293 responses, 72 from staff, 214 from parents/families, and 44 from community members!

The survey only takes 5-10 minutes to complete. The link and QR code to access the survey are below. If you haven't finished it yet - PLEASE DO. If you have, feel free to share with your neighbors and encourage them to complete as well! Deadline for completion is Sept. 22! I will share the data collected in an upcoming blog post! THANK YOU in advance!

Survey Link: https://tejoin.com/scroll/431503135

QR Code:

SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULE FOR 2025-2026 IS SET!

Each year, the School Committee creates its calendar of meetings.  This calendar provides an excellent overview of the different types of meetings our School Committee members have and the general topics that they want to make sure to discuss throughout the course of the year.  It is, of course, subject to change, and certainly doesn't list all topics that will be addressed, but it provides a nice overview to the public about the types of topics, the types of meetings, and how the year will flow if folks want to follow the work!

Please CLICK HERE to view the meeting schedule for 2025-2026.  Also, please note that you can go to our district website (www.gorhamschools.org) to see scheduled meeting dates/times on the events listing.  If changes occur we make them to the website so that is always the most up to date!

The School Committee also recently approved its FY 27 Budget Development Timeline that outlines all the key steps in our annual budget development process.  You can CLICK HERE to view, and please follow along!

While we are on the topic of following the work of the School Committee, I wanted to point out several different ways to do that and provide associated links from our website.

-  School Committee Members List 

-  Gorham School Committee meeting minutes and agendas (you can also view the most current meeting packets on this page)

-  Meeting minutes archives (goes back to 2006-2007 school year)

-  Town Meeting Recording videos (this includes school committee meeting recordings)

At the end of the day, if you have a question and don't see where to find the information you seek on our website, just reach out to me at heather.perry@gorhamschools.org, and I'll be sure to point you in the right direction.  

RESULTS OF GORHAM SCHOOL DEPARTMENT'S RECENT CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION APPLICATIONS TO THE MAINE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Last year, I shared that the Gorham Schools had submitted three capital construction applications to the Maine Department of Education for potential state funding:

• Gorham High School

• Narragansett Elementary School

• Village Elementary School

Our goal was to seek funding for a new high school to address both aging facilities and overcrowding, while also exploring the possibility of consolidating Narragansett and Village into one modern elementary school.

These state-funded construction opportunities open only once every 7–8 years, and only projects ranking in the top ten of the state’s rating list are considered for funding.

In late July, we received the draft rankings:

• Narragansett Elementary: #19

• Gorham High School: #42

• Village Elementary: #62

Unfortunately, none of our projects scored high enough to qualify for funding in this cycle.

What This Means

The next application cycle is unlikely to open for another 7–8 years, meaning Gorham is likely 17–18 years away from any possibility of state-funded construction under current conditions.

Moving Forward

Although we won’t receive state funding, the process provided valuable benefits:

• Updated Facility Studies – Our architects, Lavalle/Brensinger, recently completed updated studies for Gorham High, Narragansett, and Village. [View the report here.]

• We also continue to reference the CHA districtwide facilities study, completed three years ago. [View the report here.]

Together, these reports give us a clear, district-wide picture of facility needs. With this information, the School Committee has updated its Ten-Year Capital Plan. We will continue to:

• Work with the Town to explore shared funding and collaboration opportunities.

• Pursue local bonds as needed to address critical projects.

• Remain alert for any future state or federal funding sources that may emerge.

While state funding is not available this cycle, our commitment to providing safe, modern, and inspiring learning environments remains firm. We will keep our community informed as plans develop and welcome your ongoing feedback and support.

REMIX - INFORMATIONAL VIDEO SERIES - UNDERSTANDING PUBLIC SCHOOLS

A little over a year ago, the Gorham Schools worked with key community leaders to develop an informational video series. We partnered with GoCAT TV to produce a four-part video series helping community members to better understand public schools.  You can CLICK HERE to view each of the four videos.  Titles for each are below, and they are just as accurate today as they were a little over a year ago!  If you haven't already watched them - Check it out!

1.  Public Schools in the 21st Century

2.  Public School Governance

3.  Public School Funding

4.  The Future of Public Schools

Thanks to our special guests in each video, USM President Jackie Edmundson, Gorham Business Leader Kathy Garrard, Gorham Business Leader Shawn Moody, and fellow Superintendent of Schools in Maine, Andrew Dolloff.

MEET THE CANDIDATES NIGHT IS COMING SOON!

This year, we have several candidates running for the Town Council and the School Committee.  This event is designed to introduce you to candidates and provide them with an opportunity to share a little about themselves, their beliefs, and why they believe you should vote for them on November 4.

The event will take place on September 30 at Baxter Memorial Library at 6:00 p.m. Folks are welcome to attend in person, or you can watch the livestream from the comfort of your own home.  It's a great way to engage in our civic responsibilities of learning before voting!  The link for the live stream is below:

https://youtube.com/live/6tvJYLr1Tyc

EPISODE ONE OF LEARNING FROM MAINE IS AVAILABLE TO VIEW!

The Maine Loves Public Schools Network has released its first video in a planned series of four videos showcasing learning in Maine's public schools. The first video allows viewers to enter Casco Bay High School in Portland to see what students are learning there. Future videos will feature other schools around the state such as Bethal, Farmington, and Schools from Aroostook County.

Curious about what is really going on in Maine's public schools. Follow along!

You can watch the first video by CLICKING HERE and if you like it, head to the Maine Loves Public Schools website linked above to catch future videos!

A FEW OTHER UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS...

Just sharing in case folks are interested!  This first one is coming up this weekend in Portland.

This second one is coming up on Oct. 4 right here in Gorham.

COLLABORATIVE MURAL AT NARRAGANSETT

As I conclude this blog post, I wanted to share some incredible artwork created collaboratively by the students at Narragansett Elementary School.  Art Teacher Laurie Chiasson led the charge and explains below what the work was:

Perhaps you have noticed the collaborative mural that graced the main entrance this morning? 
The process for the mural began during open house and Narragansett students have been continuing the work in class.  The challenge was to draw and create in the negative space around the letters, not the letters themselves…or the positive space.  

I hope you enjoy the mural and stayed tuned…there is another one coming soon!

Best,
Laurie

What talented staff and students we have!  Worth the share!  Have a great weekend, everyone!