April 3 Blog Post

As we turn the corner into the spring season here in Gorham, I’m excited to share a snapshot of the energy and pride that have been filling our schools over the past few weeks.  Our classrooms have been buzzing with learning and curiosity across all grades, from our littlest learners to our biggest ones!  Check out some pictures below, and THANK YOU for being such an important part of what makes our schools a special place for our children to learn!

Now on to the information...

IMPORTANT DATES AS WE START TO INCH CLOSER TO END OF SCHOOL YEAR!

Parents, please don't freak out just yet - we do still have just a little over 11 weeks left before summer vacation, but it does sneak up on us doesn't it?  It will come quicker than we all think so I thought I'd be proactive and share some important end of the year dates for families to put on your radar because once April break hits, it all tends to go very very quickly indeed!

I asked building principals to share their lists and here's what we have for now.  Please know these are subject to change as we maneuver whatever the end of the year can throw at us!

School	End of Year Events List	Date
Gorham High School	SMAA Citizenship Banquet Prom Thespian Society Inductions Academic Awards Night Senior Scholarship Night Spring Sports Awards Senior Celebration Night Senior Walk Graduation Convoy Project Graduation	Monday, April 6, 6-8pm Saturday, May 2, 7p-10p @Dunegrass  Friday, May 8, 7pm Wednesday, May 20, 6pm Wednesday, May 27,, 6pm Wednesday, June 3, 6pm Thursday, June 4, 6:30pm Friday, June 5, 9am Sunday, June 7, 4pm Sunday, June 7, 7:30pm Sunday, June 7, 8:30pm
Gorham Middle School	STEAM Night Rising 6th-Grade Family Night 8th-Grade Celebration	Tuesday, May 5th @ 5:30 PM Wed., June 3rd @ 5:30 PM Tuesday, June 16th @ 5:00 PM
Great Falls Elem. School	Talent Show  Gorham Band Night at GHS Grade 4 Family Breakfast Gorham School Choir Night Creative Arts Around the World Family Night Elementary Band Concert Spring Family Picnic Grade-Level Field Days Elementary Chorus Concert Senior Walk Remote Learning Day Grade Step Up to GMS Kindergarten EOY Celebration Grades K-4 Step Up Day Grade 5 EOY Celebration	March 31st 5-7pm April 7th 6 pm April 9th 8:00 a.m. April 14th 6 pm April 16th May 18th 6:00 pm May 21st 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. May 27-June 3 9:00-11:30 May 28th 6:00 pm June 5th June 9th June 15th June 15th June 16th June 16th
Narragansett Elem. School	Grade 4 Family Breakfast Talent Show All Gorham Band Night @ GHS All Gorham Chorus Night @ GHS PreK Family Snack AM PreK Family Snack PM PreK Sea Dogs Night Elementary Band Concert @ GHS First Responder Appreciation Day Grade 1 Family Math Night ILC Family Picnic Field Days Elementary Chorus Concert @ Great Falls Senior Walk Grade 5 Step Up Day to GMS Grade K-4 Step Up Day Grade 5 Celebration	April 9 @ 8:00  Thursday, April 16 @ 6:00 April 7 @ 6:00       April 14 @ 6:00 May 7, @ 9:00 May 7 @ 2:00 May 8 @ 6:00 May 19 @ 6:00 May 14 during school day May 7 May 20 @ 5:30 May 27- June 3 May 28 @ 6:00 June 5 June 15 June 16 June 16
Village Elem. School	Author Visit Monty Selby Visit Grade-Level Field Days Spring Fling Senior Walk Grade 5 Step Up Day to GMS Grade K-4 Step Up Day Grade 5 Celebration	April 15 1:30 April 17 All Day May 27-June 3 9:00-11:30 June 4 5:30-7:00 June 5 June 15 June 16 June 16

Pencil these into your calendars and keep your eyes open for your school's weekly newsletters to stay up to date on any changes that may occur between now and then!  As you can see - things are going to get busy!

SPRING TESTING WINDOWS & REMINDERS FOR FAMILIES

With spring also comes our annual achievement testing in the Gorham Schools.  I've included a schedule of our testing windows with grade levels below.  

-  Maine Science Assessment (MSA) - High School - April 1 through April 17 (now). Grades 5 and 8 is May 11 through May 22, 2026

- Maine Through Year Assessment (Reading and Math State Assessments) - April 13 through May 29, 2026

The results of these assessments are frequently used by our school system.  We use this data to help inform how well we are doing with our curriculum and instruction.  This data helps us better understand where we may need to place more efforts in training or other support structures for our students.  This data also helps inform supports that we may need to offer individual students or how we can better refine our instructional approaches to have a greater impact.

As parents you may wonder..."What can I do to help make sure my student is best prepared for these assessments?"  There are several things we as a school would suggest that might help your child.  Here are just a few:

1.  Focus on Consistent Routines (Sleep, Nutrition, Time) - Prioritize sleep schedules, make sure students get a good breakfast, and keep mornings calm and predictable.  This isn't about the test - it is about helping kids show up feeling their best every day!

2.  Build confidence through effort, not outcome - As families, praise effort, persistence and growth.  Avoid language like "this really matters" or "this really matters".  Instead say things like:  "Just do your best and show what you know."  Confidence reduces anxiety and confident students think more clearly.

3.  Normalize mistakes and productive struggle - Let your child know its ok to not know everything right away.  Encourage use of time tested strategies like re-reading questions, going with their first "gut reaction" and taking their time to think about problems before trying to solve them.

4.  Keep testing in perspective - Frame the test as just one way teachers know what they know and are able to do.  It isn't the only way they can show their knowledge.  Emphasize that any one test doesn't define who you are and avoid overdiscussing test days or results.   

And if you are asking what is most effective from the school's perspective it is first and foremost that students show up.  Please try to avoid any planned absences during these testing windows if at all possible.  Granted, students will get sick, and we can make tests up for that purpose...but it really helps students to stick to routines and take the assessments with their peers which can only be done if students are in school.  

Please reach out to your child's teachers or building leaders if you have questions or concerns about any of the assessments that we will be giving this spring and THANK YOU for your continued partnership!

RECENT THOUGHT EXCHANGE SURVEY RESULTS SUMMARY - PART II

In my previous blog (March 20), I shared the results of a recent community survey with folks that summarized responses to the following question:

What Makes Our School Unique?  What Should We Feel Proud About?

For this blog post, I am going to dive more deeply into the 2nd question that was asked in this survey which was:

In What Ways Can We Continue To Grow and Improve In Best Serving You?

Once again, we had 930 responses broken out as follows:

The responses offered up several areas for growth and improvement in better serving the community.  The five key themes/categories that emerged in the data were:

1.  Facilities and Resources - Participants frequently mentioned the need for improved facilities and resources. There is a strong desire for better infrastructure, such as larger renovations and more space in schools, to accommodate the growing student population. Many responses highlighted the inadequacy of current facilities, including outdated athletic fields and the need for more modern classrooms. The perception is that the current state of facilities is a significant barrier to providing quality education. Participants also expressed concerns about budget constraints impacting the ability to make necessary improvements.

2.  Curriculum and Academics - There is a strong emphasis on maintaining and improving academic rigor and curriculum offerings. Participants expressed a desire for a balanced curriculum that includes foundational subjects like STEM, as well as opportunities for enrichment and hands-on learning. Concerns were raised about the adequacy of the current curriculum in preparing students for future academic and career success. Some responses highlighted the need for more diverse and relevant class offerings, particularly at the high school level. Overall, the perception is that while the current curriculum is satisfactory, there is room for enhancement to better meet students' needs.

3.  Communication and Community Engagement - Improving communication between schools and parents is a recurring theme. Participants expressed a need for more direct communication from teachers and better notice of school events. There is also a desire for increased community involvement and support for schools, as well as more opportunities for parents to engage with the school community. The perception is that while some communication channels exist, they are not sufficient to keep parents fully informed and engaged. Enhancing communication is seen as a way to strengthen the relationship between schools and families.

4.  Student Well-Being and Support - Participants highlighted the importance of supporting students' emotional and social well-being. There is a call for more mental health resources, anti-bullying measures, and support for diverse student needs. Concerns were raised about the adequacy of current support systems for students, particularly those with special needs or facing bullying. The perception is that while efforts are being made to support students, there is a need for more comprehensive and effective measures. Ensuring a safe and supportive environment is seen as crucial for student success.

5.  Budget and Financial Management - Budget constraints and financial management are significant concerns for participants. Many responses emphasized the need to balance educational needs with taxpayer concerns, particularly regarding tax increases. There is a perception that financial pressures are impacting the quality of education and the ability to attract and retain talented educators. Participants expressed a desire for more efficient use of resources and better financial planning to avoid continuous tax hikes. The overall sentiment is that financial management is a critical area that needs attention to ensure sustainable educational improvements.

Using the Thought Exchange platform we are able to get several different views of the data that was shared by participants.  One view related to this question of how we can continue to improve and grow in best serving our community is a tool called "Common Ground".  What happens when we look at the data through the lens of this tool is that the data is sorted into two oppositing viewpoints (Side A and Side B) and then cross referenced for "Common Ground".  This is always an interesting and informative way to look at the data.  Here is what we see when we do:

What this shows us is that there may be one perspective that is focused more on rigor and academic success, while not focusing so much on cost.  Another view is focused primarily on costs and not as much on rigor and academic success.  But when we look at both of these opposing views what they can both agree on is the need for strong communication, transparency and collaboration.

At a time when it can feel easy to become divided around competing priorities, what stands out most in this feedback is not where we disagree, but where we align. Regardless of perspective, our community is united in wanting the very best for our students. That shared commitment will remain our compass moving forward. The Gorham Schools are strongest when we work to bring people together around common purpose.  By continuing to lean into transparency, communication, and authentic collaboration as is suggested above, we can bridge viewpoints, make grounded decisions in the best interest of students, and ensure that our schools remain focused on never settling for anything less than what our students/children deserve most - to graduate from our schools prepared to succeed in whatever future they design for themselves!

This data will continue to be discussed with our district leadership team to better inform goal setting, decision making and planning for the coming year. THANK YOU to all those who participated!

FY 27 PROPOSED SCHOOL BUDGET UPDATE!

On March 23 the Gorham School Committee held its 4th budget workshop meeting to discuss the proposed FY 27 School Budget.  The School Committee discussed what amount of funding they felt comfortable using from undesignated budgetary balance amounts to offset taxpayer expenses.  They discussed overall Revenue numbers, and made final adjustments to proposed expenditure items.

Over the course of these 4 meetings, the School Committee reduced the originally proposed budget by a little more than $1M dollars, bringing the proposed increase down from its original 7.3% to a new overall proposed increase of 5.52% to be in line with our ten year average increases.  

The School Committee will be voting on the final proposed FY 27 school budget at its April 8 Regular meeting.  There will be public comment if anyone is interested in participating.  Whatever final amount is approved on April 8 will then be sent to the Town Council for further discussion and approval processes before ultimately going to voters for a validation referendum on June 9.

The School Committee is scheduled for a joint workshop meeting with the Town Council on April 28 where the overall proposed budget will be presented and opportunities will be provided for full discussion by the Town Council.  The Town Council will then vote on an overall school and municipal budget on May 12.  Both the April 28 workshop meeting and the May 12 budget approval meeting will be held at the Municipal Center starting at 6:30 p.m.  The workshop meeting will be held in the downstairs conference room and the budget vote will be held in council chambers.

Individuals can see all budget materials shared thus far with the School Committee on our website by CLICKING HERE.  You can also watch all four of the budget meetings using the link provided.  

Individuals with questions about the proposed budget are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to email either your school committee members or town council members.  I've provided links for each below:

School Committee Member Emails

Town Council Member Emails

SOCIAL MEDIA AND COMPLEX BUDGET CONVERSATIONS - A GOOD MIX???

Social media, while a valuable place for community dialogue, doesn’t always provide the full context needed to understand complex topics like a school budget. This is why we strongly encourage folks to reach out directly with questions you may have.  We are always happy to help and will never ask you to agree...only to understand.  A recent example helps illustrate this point.

A question was recently raised on a local community page asking why it appeared that our Transportation Director was receiving a $20,000 increase after one year, and our Facilities Director a $40,000 increase. It was a fair question based on how the budget lines appeared at first glance. As often happens in these spaces, a range of responses followed—many of which were well-intentioned, though not fully accurate. One individual did suggest reaching out directly for clarification, which was exactly the right approach.  If they had, we could have provided that clarity:  neither of these positions is receiving anything beyond the same percentage increase applied to all administrators. The confusion comes from how the positions were previously structured and how they are now represented in the budget.

In prior years, one individual served in a combined Transportation/Facilities role, with their salary split across two budget lines—approximately 75% in Facilities and 25% in Transportation. Using a simple example, a $100,000 salary would appear as $75,000 in Facilities and $25,000 in Transportation.

In the proposed budget, these roles have been separated into two full positions. This means the Facilities Director’s full salary now appears entirely in the Facilities line, and the Transportation Director’s full salary appears in the Transportation line. While this creates what looks like a significant increase in each line, it is really a reallocation and restructuring of how those responsibilities are staffed and budgeted. Additionally, the creation of the full-time Transportation Director role was offset by the elimination of the Assistant Director position and a shift to a more cost-effective dispatch model.

The key takeaway is that while the presentation of the numbers has changed, the actual compensation increases are consistent with standard adjustments and not the large increases they may initially appear to be.

I share this example not to single out any one conversation, but as a reminder of how easy it is for incomplete information to take on a life of its own—especially in spaces like social media where questions and assumptions can move quickly.

As a community, we all care deeply about our schools, and that shared commitment is a strength. One of the best ways we can support one another and ensure productive, informed conversations is by checking information when something doesn’t seem quite right and reaching out directly for clarification.

If you ever have questions about the proposed budget, please know that we genuinely welcome them. I, along with our School Committee members and Town Council members, are always available to provide context, answer questions, and help make sense of the details. Those direct conversations can often bring clarity much more quickly and help ensure that discussions moving forward are grounded in accurate information.

At the end of the day, we may not all agree on every decision and that is most definitely okay. That is what makes for a strong democracy in action.  What matters most is that our conversations are rooted in a shared understanding of the facts and a collective commitment to doing what’s best for our students and our community.

NEW SCHOOL FUNDING VIDEO RELEASED - CHECK IT OUT & THANK YOU GoCAT TV!

As we move closer to budget approval votes coming up by the School Committee, then later by the Town Council and then later in June by all of you as voters, I thought it would be important to put together an informational video that talks a little bit more about how the school budget is created each year, and how you as community members can best engage in the conversations to ensure your voices are heard and understood.

Thank you to Nicole Yeo-Fisher (SC Chair), Michelle Littlefield (SC Vice Chair), David Willis (TC member and chair of finance committee), Mark Curtis (Community Member) and Bill Benson (Community Member) for being willing to spend a few hours together talking about these important topics and sharing their important perspectives.

The link below is to PART I of a two-part video series on the topic of school funding. Part I is approximately 30 minutes in length as is Part II. I will release Part II in my next blog post. The videos are both a little dense...but you can stop and go as needed. If you are the type of person that loves budget discussions - these videos are for you!

Thank you to Georgia Humphries and her GoCAT Team for filming and making us all look good! ☺

Understanding Our Public Schools:  School Funding Part I  

NATIONAL SCHOOL LIBRARIANS DAY - APRIL 4

Tomorrow (Saturday) is National School Librarians Day!  As we celebrate National School Librarians Day on April 4, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on just how much the role of the school librarian has evolved. The librarians many of us remember from years past were the keepers of books, the caretakers of quiet spaces, card catalogs, and orderly shelves. While that foundation of fostering a love of reading remains as important as ever, today’s school library/media specialists have expanded far beyond those traditional boundaries.

Modern school librarians are dynamic educators, technology leaders, instructional partners and collaborators. They help students navigate an increasingly complex information landscape.  They teach research skills, digital citizenship, and how to evaluate sources in an age of endless information that may or may not be accurate. They collaborate with teachers to design engaging learning experiences, support inquiry-based projects, all while ensuring that all students have access to both print and digital resources. In many ways, they are at the center of helping students become critical thinkers, creative problem solvers, and responsible users of information.

On this National School Librarians Day, we celebrate these incredible professionals who continue to adapt, innovate, and inspire. Their work ensures that our students are not only strong readers, but also thoughtful learners prepared for the demands of today’s world. We are grateful for the passion, expertise, and care our school librarians bring to our schools each and every day.

Thank you to:

-  Kelly Tibbetts - GHS Library/Media Specialist

-  Suzanne Dix - GMS Library/Media Specialist

-  Jessie Mason - Great Falls Library/Media Specialist

-  Lori Littlefield - Narragansett Library/Media Specialist

-  Gigi Mcallister - Village Library/Media Specialist

OUR SCHOOLS - OUR FUTURE - OPEN PUBLIC FORUM #3 COMING SOON!

Just a quick reminder, especially after sharing so much recent information about the proposed budget—that we have another OPEN Public Forum coming up on April 15 at 6:00 p.m. at Baxter Library.

This will be our third opportunity to come together as a community to talk openly about the school budget, hear directly from Superintendent Perry, and discuss what we see ahead for the future of our schools. These forums are designed to be accessible, informative, and most importantly interactive. We’ll begin with a brief overview to ground the conversation, and then the majority of the time will be dedicated to your questions, thoughts, and perspectives.

We’ve had a great turnout of 10–15 engaged community members at each of the first two sessions, which has led to thoughtful conversations and helpful feedback. Let’s continue to build on that momentum.

If you’ve been following along, have questions, or simply want to better understand how this budget connects to our schools and community, I encourage you to join us. Your voice matters in this process! I hope to see you there.

THIRD ANNUAL EAT AND LEARN EVENT ANNOUNCED!

The Gorham School's Anti-Racism & Equity Committee has announced its third annual Eat and Learn Event!  Please mark your calendars and hold the date...more detailed information will be coming soon!

The event will take place on May 4 from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. at Gorham High School.  We'll start in the library and then use a few other classroom spaces as well.  

We're still finalizing details but we are planning to have this event mostly student led with three major learning sessions: (1) Murals (2) Community Circles and (3) Exhibitions of Student Work.

We will have "snacks" and beverages for attendees.  

Again, more details will be shared soon so for now - please "save the date" and stay tuned!

VIDEO - RECENT GHS STAFF/STUDENT BBALL FUNDRAISER

As I close this edition of my blog post, I thought it would be fun to showcase a recent activity at GHS where students and staff came together to have some fun for a great cause!  Check out this video of the GHS Staff/Student Bball game.  You can hear the fun, the strong relationships, and the focus on community.  We have really great students AND we have really great staff at GHS - a WINNING Combination, regardless of focus!

Video Link

Enjoy your weekends everyone!  Next blog will be April 17 just before the spring break!  Almost there!