The month of September has certainly flown by and is now in the rearview mirror! October is upon us with all the fall treasures our great state has to offer! I hope everyone is able to get out and enjoy before the weather starts turning colder and colder! Lots going on in our schools - so on with the pictures from the past two weeks and then the important information!
ASPIRE GORHAM STUDENT DATA FROM 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR
The Aspire Gorham Initiative began with a planning year in 2018-2019 and then our first implementation year in 2019-2020. This program began as a fully grant-funded program via our partnership with the MELMAC Foundation and Jobs For Maine's Graduates (JMG). Over seven fiscal years our grant partners contributed a combined total of just over $1.2 million dollars to support this program. Today, because of the demonstrated positive impacts of this program upon our schools, our students and our community, the Aspire Gorham Initiative is fully funded locally.
What is Aspire Gorham?
That is a great question! Aspire Gorham is for everyone! This community-wide initiative encourages students in every grade and Gorham school to consider their futures. Collaborating with businesses and community organizations in and around Gorham, the Aspire Gorham team connects students to professionals for career exposure, exploration, and experience opportunities from kindergarten through 12th grade. At each grade level we have a specific focus as outlined below:
Grades PK - 5 = Exposure: Building future-ready skills and inspiring students.
This foundational stage of Aspire Gorham provides introductory career-related opportunities that incorporate dramatic lay, experiential learning, time for discussion, parent engagement, and the development of future-ready skills that foster children's aspirational strengths and interests.
Grades 6-9 = Exploration: Supporting students to explore their strengths and interests.
Deepening the career exposure that occurs in early childhood and elementary education, this stage encourages students to actively "try it" and explore many different careers and skills without fear of failure. Students continue to focus on developing future-ready skills through ongoing exposure to and engagement with their community.
Deepening the career exposure that occurs in early childhood and elementary education, this stage encourages students to actively "try it" and explore many different careers and skills without fear of failure. Students continue to focus on developing future-ready skills through ongoing exposure to and engagement with their community.
Grades 9-12 = Experience: Empowering students to craft their future stories.
Building upon the foundations of career exposure and exploration, students partner with teachers and community mentors to pursue authentic career experiences directly tied to future goals and are located in the community. Students also actively engage in career exposure and exploration activities as they refine their skills and take steps toward realizing their aspirations.
Building upon the foundations of career exposure and exploration, students partner with teachers and community mentors to pursue authentic career experiences directly tied to future goals and are located in the community. Students also actively engage in career exposure and exploration activities as they refine their skills and take steps toward realizing their aspirations.
Building upon the foundations of career exposure and exploration, students partner with teachers and community mentors to pursue authentic career experiences directly tied to future goals and are located in the community. Students also actively engage in career exposure and exploration activities as they refine their skills and take steps toward realizing their aspirations.
Each year we do data collection for students trying to measure the impact the program has had over time. You can find a full review of the data collected for the 2023-2024 school year by CLICKING HERE, but I'd like to highlight a few pieces of information below.
- 93% of our students report that their teachers have "high expectations" of them.
- 92% of our students report that their counselors and their teachers help prepare them for successful life after HS graduation.
- 85% of our students report that they learn things in school that they believe have a direct connection to their lives after graduation.
- Participation in Internship programs has increased from just 25% of students in 2021 to now almost 80% participate in internship experiences!
- The percentage of students participating in either JMG or CTE programs has increased from 27% in 2020 to 38% in the spring of 2024.
- The number of students participating in Extended Learning Opportunities (ELO's) Since 2020 has quadrupled!
The number of students participating in early college courses has increased from just 4% in 2020 to 75% in spring 2024.
The Aspire Program ranges from sponsoring our Littlest Learners program at Baxter Memorial Library for our earliest learners to field experiences and curriculum connections to aspirations in the early grades to events like the Amazing Race, Try It Day, and Junior Achievement programming at the MS level to ELOs, Internships, CTE programming, and curriculum-embedded career exploration activities at the HS level.
The bottom line is that our classroom learning is purposefully connected to meaningful and authentic opportunities for students to explore their aspirations from birth all the way through!
It is an incredible program for our students and one that requires many community partners to be successful. If you have an interest in helping out - please reach out to Eliza Kenigsberg, our Career Aspirations and ELO Coordinator to share your interests and learn more about how you can be involved in this program! Her email address is eliza.kenigsberg@gorhamschools.org
THREE SCHOOL CAPITAL PROJECTS WILL BE ON THE NOV. 5 BALLOT! WANT TO KNOW MORE???
Please see the two flyers below. The first one is on the GHS Referendum Question and the Second (which has two pages) provides an overview of the tennis courts question. Both flyers have a link and QR code that will bring you to our website to view the actual questions, learn more about the details of the projects and why they are being requested, and gain additional background information.
Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions. In the meantime, I thought I'd provide a quick Q&A below based on questions I've seen broadly in the community.
Question: Why do we need more classroom space at GHS? Enrollments are as low now as they have been in years?
Answer: Two things are going on here. First, it is important to know that although we currently have about 815 students at GHS this year, our projections show that within 3 years, we will be back up over 900. This is relatively easy to verify when you consider that we currently have 720 students at GMS across just three grade levels. Second, it isn't just about the total number of students determining space needs. It is also about the types of students that impact our space needs. Over the last two years, we have seen a significant increase in the number of specialized classroom spaces we need, and we see this trend continuing. Specialized classroom spaces may include spaces such as Functional Life Skills program space, Behavior Support Program space, or even specific spaces for our students with autism and other special needs. In these spaces, we can typically only put between 8-10 students with 4-5 adults in each space. This is not the same as a regular classroom where you can have 28 students with just one teacher in a similar space.
Question: Why can't we just repair existing tennis court foundations at a lesser cost than what is being requested to replace them?
Answer: Once again, there are two things going on here that impact this. First and foremost - we have worked with several tennis companies this past year and with Sebego Technics (an engineering firm that is also used broadly by the Town of Gorham) and they have advised us that spending money on a top coat, which can cost upwards of $50,000.00 a "whack" would be akin to throwing money into a black hole. In other words, they won't warranty their work because they know how bad the underpinning is currently. Could we just top coat things at $50,000.00 and then next summer do it again, and then next summer do it again? Sure - but then we will have spent another $100,000.00 on top of the funds we really need to do what is right. This would simply not be fiscally responsible. Second, within the next 3-4 years we plan on having to do a second modular expansion at GHS to increase space for increasing student populations. When we do this, the only place we could expand modulars would be in the direction of the existing courts. So although it would make sense to rebuild the courts on the existing site so we could use some of the existing infrastructure (such as lights for example), we know that we will be moving the courts within the next 3-4 years so we would then have to rebuild them twice. Once again, not a fiscally responsible plan.
Question: Why are these bond requests not being requested as part of the annual budget process for the Schools?
Answer: Because our annual operating budgets have had to be cut each year for the past several years to pass our operating budget for student programming and school operations. Whenever a capital project is put alongside educational programming for children, and a reduction has to be made - it will be the capital project that goes on every time. We need to find a way to invest in meeting the capital needs of our school buildings so that they are not competing with our programs. Because we do not have the authority as a school department to create and draw from reserve accounts, the only way we have accomplished these much-needed projects in recent years is via bonding.
Question: Does the School Department have a capital plan outlining long-term needs, and has that been shared with the Town Council so they know the needs?
Answer: Yes. You can CLICK HERE for a copy of our most up-to-date long-range capital plan. You can also CLICK HERE for a copy of the 2022 Joint Facilities Assessment completed by CHA of all Town & School Facilities. Of course, we will need to update the ten-year plan now that only three of our projects might get funded vs. the 8 projects we initially requested, but this plan does outline our capital needs over the next 10+ years along with estimated costs. This plan was created in collaboration with the Town Council's finance/facilities committee, and yes, it has been communicated to them. The bottom line is that we have not appropriately budgeted for capital improvements in our regular or reserve budgeting approach as a town. Therefore, we have dug ourselves a bit of a hole that we are now struggling to dig out of. This is especially difficult given that the costs for capital projects have almost tripled in the past four years (see recent PPH ARTICLE LINKED HERE).
Question: Why should we spend all this money on tennis courts that only a small number of students will use?
Answer: First, it is crucial to know that we have approximately 50 HS students that participate in our tennis program annually and another 60 GMS students that participate in our tennis programs annually. This is a popular activity with our students, which is great because it is a lifetime sport they can carry with them for many years. We believe that by changing the location of the tennis courts to the GMS campus site, we will allow more community members to utilize the courts during the course of the regular day because it is off campus just enough to allow members of the public to safely be there while schools are in session. The courts at the current sites can only be used during non-school hours because you would have to cross the HS campus to get to them. Additionally, we are planning that the 6th tennis court would be situated and lined in such a way as to allow the use of 4 pickleball courts at this site. As we all know, pickleball is an excellent activity for all ages! Finally, by ensuring the courts are lit, we can extend the time they can be used in, as would our neighbors on the hill from USM. This project would allow the broader community to use these courts far more the evening by students and community members.
Gorham Recreation program would also be able to use these courts as would our neighbors on the hill from USM. This project would allow for far greater use by the broader community of these courts.
I will include more Q&A in my upcoming blog! For now - if you want to learn more - check out the flyers below and click on the URL or QR code to go to our website for many more details!
GHS Project Informational Flyer:
Tennis Courts Informational Flyer Pg. 1:
Tennis Courts Informational Flyer Pg. 2:
UPDATE ON THE WORK OF THE FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE
As has been the case from the beginning, there was robust conversation from members, with some great ideas and different perspectives being shared. We agreed that the focus of the next few meetings will be trying to put meat onto the bones of the two top recommendations that seem to be forming from the committee's work. One deals with the creation of a community fiscal strategic plan that can help our community better anticipate the various "ups and downs" of community needs over time, and the other deals with the creation of a community communications plan that looks at both internal and external communications and how these can be strengthened to better inform our community and improve transparency in governance.
You can view the full recording of the meeting by CLICKING HERE.
I would also like to share some information that was shared with the Committee from the schools that folks may find interesting. The following graphs attempt to share overall staff wages and benefit increases between 2014 and 2024 as compared to inflation (CPI). You can view the entire series of spreadsheets by CLICKING HERE. I will share the summary & key take-aways below:
The blue line represents all payroll costs for the schools and their % increases each year. The orange line represents CPI or inflation. Please note that the payroll costs also include health insurance costs.
Key take-aways from a wholistic look at all the data presented (again link above if you want to see) is below:
1. Overall, salaries/benefit increases were above CPI from 2015-2020. Since 2020, however CPI has been far higher and our rates have been dipping under CPI.
2. There is more that can attribute to these increases than just salary matrix or benefit increases themselves, for example:
- There may have been increases in overall staffing due to student need and not increases in salary/benefits.
- Each year staff are able to switch insurance plans. Some may come off, some may come on, some may switch plans to more expensive plans.
- Annual increases in insurance rates are based on mod. useage rates. Some of these costs cannot be avoided or prevented (i.e. maternity leaves or cancer).
- During this time, increases have occurred in required retirement benefits, FMLA and Earned Paid Leave caused by the state legislature.
3. We maintain a "middle of the road" base salary/hourly rate for all contracts with our Cumberland County Partners. We are not at the top, and we are not at the bottom. We try to stay in the middle.
4. Most recent GTA (Teacher contract) increases were far below CPI.
5. Recent SAA (Ed. Techs and Admin. Assistants) increases were far below CPI.
6. Most recent MBCC (Bus Drivers and Maintenance and cooks) were above CPI, but required to catch up with local market rates.
7. Recent state statute requires us to create a base level pay for support services at 125% State min. wage for Ed. Techs and 115% State min. Wage for all other hourly employees. This is a state-wide rule, which means Cumberland County will need to be higher due to cost of living.
8. Recently, we have noticed that there is a bit of a "price war" going on for scarce human resources in these areas, causing costs to go up regionally, especially for hourly employees and substitutes.
Wage costs account for almost 80% of the school's total budget.
If you would like a refresher on what this group's purpose is about and who its members are or would like to see agendas and minutes from our meetings, you can go to the Town's website to learn more.
If you would like a refresher on what this group's purpose is about and who its members are or would like to see agendas and minutes from our meetings, you can go to the Town's website to learn more.
The next meeting of the Fiscal Sustainability Committee will be October 28 at 6:00 p.m. at the Municipal Center in Conference Room A (downstairs).
UPCOMING SUBSTITUTE TRAINING CLASS IN NOVEMBER! REGISTER TODAY!
As you are aware the Gorham Schools continues to hire for substitute teachers. We, along with other schools in our area, are in desperate need of substitutes for our schools! The min. requirement to be a substitute teacher in our schools is a High School Diploma. We do have different pay rates, however based on experience and knowledge. These rates break down as follows:
- Certified Teachers - $150.00/day
- Substitutes having completed Training Course - $140.00/day
- All other subs - $125.00/day.
If anyone wants to become a sub for the Gorham Schools the first step is to apply online. You can do that by CLICKING HERE. The second step is to apply for your CHRC approval through the Maine Department of Education. This is a fingerprint background check that is required to work in schools. You will need to pay the fee up front but once you are hired we will reimburse you for the costs as long as you save your receipt.
If you have just a HS diploma and want to get the higher daily rate - you can complete a training course that we offer via our Adult Education Program. Please see flyer below for details if you are interested, and feel free to share broadly!
WANT A VOICE IN DETERMINING FY 26 SCHOOL BUDGET PRIORITIES?
Survey Link: https://tejoin.com/scroll/561521647
Survey QR Code:
OCTOBER IS BULLYING AWARENESS MONTH!
One excellent resource (of many) is from "StopBullying.Gov". This is the official website of the U.S. Government and is packed with great resources for families!
Please check out the link below and learn more about how to help. Also, if you have specific ideas you think would be great for our schools, please don't be bashful about reaching out to your building principals or perhaps even working to attend an upcoming PIE (Partners in Education) meeting to share your thoughts! We are always looking for great ideas!
Resource link: https://www.stopbullying.gov/
Another great resource link for parents is from the Center for Parent Resources. Link is below:
Also as a reminder, our schools have several policies that we use to define what bullying is and to address it when it occurs. Bottom line - when you see something - say something and we will work diligently to address it in partnership!
Please reach out with any questions you may have at any time.
LAST CALL FOR PARENTS WHO MAY WANT TO SERVE ON DISTRICT COMMITTEES!
I am currently still seeking ONE parent/guardian who is interested in serving on the Teaching & Learning Committee at the district level for this year. Our first meeting will be on Nov. 6 at 3:30 p.m. via zoom. All meetings are held via zoom at this time. There will be one meeting per month of this group. The major focus for work this year will be on updating and suggesting revisions for our current Metrics for Success Document which is how we measure the success of our schools here in Gorham.
The district is also still seeking interested parents and community members for our Anti-Racism & Equity Committee! You can CLICK HERE to read an overview of the work of the committee. The group meets roughly 1 time per month with some work meetings in between throughout the year. Our first meeting will be held on Oct. 17 at 5:30 p.m. at GHS Library. We will schedule future meetings together at that time.
If any one is interested in serving on EITHER of these two committees - please reach out directly to me at heather.perry@gorhamschools.org. THANK YOU!
GHS EARNS CONTINUED ACCREDITATION FROM THE NEW ENGLAND ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES (NEASC)!
The following information was shared by GHS Principal Brian Jandreau on Oct. 1, 2024...
Dear Gorham Community,
I am pleased to share that the New England Association of Schools and Colleges has awarded GHS continued accreditation. I am proud of the feedback that they shared with us.
The Commission was impressed with many of the programs and services and wishes to commend the following:
The collaboration between building leaders, faculty, staff, students, families and
community stakeholders
The strong commitment to building relationships and creating a sense of belonging
The consistent course syllabi and unit planning documents that allow stakeholders to
clearly understand course requirements and how each course fulfills not only
graduation requirements but also connects to the vision of a graduate
The robust classroom technology that supports learning, including 1:1 devices for
students and teachers, access to a wide variety of digital platforms, and projectors for
each classroom
The common planning time for nearly all departments that is generally well-used and
valued
The trust teachers feel as professionals, empowered to make program and curriculum
decisions based on their view of student learning needs
The use of the Rosevelt Room to support students' social and emotional needs
throughout the day
The Aspire Gorham program that provides students with community-based learning
opportunities
The clarity and specificity of district and school planning and safety documents
The continued effort to utilize spaces creatively to best serve the needs of student
learning in the face highly constrictive space and funding
The NEASC Commission on Public Schools also confirmed the following growth areas for GHS:
Gorham High School will investigate and develop plans for implementing alternative
structures that can meet the needs of all students.
The school will embed the vision of a graduate in assessments and instruction that
align with the curriculum.
The school must provide professional learning opportunities for staff to develop
skills and strategies to help them differentiate instruction to meet student learning
needs.
Gorham High School will use its core values, beliefs about learning, and vision of a
graduate to help determine its learning and wellness priorities and use those to drive
staffing decisions and advocate for the funding of staff to support those priorities.
The school and the district governing body will investigate the physical plant and the
needs of the community to create a specific and actionable comprehensive capital
improvement plan.
For more information about our accreditation, please visit the accreditation page on our website.
Sincerely,
Brian Jandreau, Principal
CANDIDATES NIGHT - A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF LOCAL DEMOCRACY IN POSITIVE ACTION!
First of all, I thank Baxter Memorial Library and their staff for putting on such an informative event for our community. Secondly, I'd like to thank Georgia and her team at GoCat TV for live streaming and recording the event for our community. The evening was highly informative and an incredible model for how civil discourse should be had about very real and important issues impacting our community. Everyone that spoke had something important to say and they said it without insulting one another! A great example we hope replicates throughout the current election cycle!
I would strongly encourage folks to watch the recording to help inform your vote on Nov. 5 if you haven't already done so. You can access the recording by CLICKING HERE.
Thank you to all who participated and modeled for our community the powerful positives that democracy brings to us all1
TOWN OF GORHAM OPEN HOUSE REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLANNING
If you are interested in providing your voice to help inform the development of Gorham's Economic Development Plan - you should attend this meeting! Information is below. There is a sign up for the event on the Town's facebook page as well! Hope to see you there!
That is it for this blog post! See you again on Oct. 18th! Enjoy your weekend!
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