BackPack Team at Gorham School District Receives $25,000 Neighborhood Assist Grant

Gorham School District was one of 40 recipients nationwide to receive a $25,000 Neighborhood Assist Grant. They received the award for the efforts with their BackPack Program and School Garden, an initiative that provides food for students and families experiencing food insecurity in the community.

This past June, State Farm accepted 2,000 applications for their Neighborhood Assist grant program. Submissions represented causes from throughout the country which focused on education, safety, and community development initiatives. A review committee narrowed down the submissions to the top 200 finalists which were posted online and voted on by the public. The 40 causes with the most votes each won a $25,000 grant.

Gorham’s BackPack Team Administers weekend food and snack bags to students, offering a school food pantry at the high school, and by growing a school garden which provides fresh produce to the local food pantry during the growing season. The BackPack Program sends food home every weekend with students who would otherwise not have enough food to last through the weekend. Learn more here.

Reminder of Initial Audit Requirement Due November 1

We would like to remind business managers, and those with fiscal reporting responsibilities for SAUs, that the statements of assurance and the Maine Education Financial Systems (MEFS) Financial reconciliations are due by November 1st, as required by Title 20-A MRSA §6051 (4).

The statement of assurance should include:

Written determination of whether or not proper budgetary controls are in place
A written determination of whether or not the annual financial data submitted to the department is correct, including submission of an audited reconciliation of the annual financial data prepared and certified by the auditor;
A written determination as to whether the school administrative unit has complied with applicable provisions of the Essential Programs and Services Funding Act.

Any adjustments identified by these reconciliations should be submitted to Maine Education Financial System by November 30th.

For more information or assistance, please contact Stephanie Clark, Fiscal Compliance Associate, School Finance & Operations for the Department of Education at 207-624-6807 or Stephanie.Clark@maine.gov.

Enrollment up at Maine’s Community Colleges

The Maine Community College System announced last week that preliminary enrollment figures show a 6.3 percent increase in enrolled students this fall compared to the same time last year.

The increase is in sharp contrast to a nationwide trend of declining enrollments at two-year public colleges over the last several years. The strong showing is due in part to a number of new initiatives at the colleges aimed at attracting and retaining more students. The system also did not raise tuition for this academic year, maintaining the lowest tuition and fees in New England.

As of September 23, the system-wide headcount is up 6.3 percent (an additional 966 students) from the same date a year ago. All seven colleges report increases, the largest of which are at Eastern Maine Community College, up 10.4 percent with 2,141 students enrolled compared to 1,939 last year at this time, and at Southern Maine Community College up 8.2 percent, with 6,078 students enrolled compared to 5,618 a year ago.

At the same time, the system is also seeing a surge of participation in its short-term job training programs which are not included in the fall headcount enrollment numbers.

In the last year, the number of trainees who completed short-term training programs funded by the MCCS Maine Quality Centers (MQC) program has almost doubled to 1,602, up from 897 in the previous year. MQC works with Maine employers to provide customized training that is free to trainees and is focused on strengthening the skills of the Maine workforce.

“We’re seeing significant growth both in our programs that lead to one-year certificates and two-year degrees and in short-term training,” MCCS President David Daigler told the system’s Board of Trustees at a meeting Wednesday in Bangor. “Demand from both employers and individuals looking to gain the skills needed to compete in this new economy is exploding and stretching our ability to respond.”

The high demand for both degree programs and short-term training at Maine’s community colleges is particularly noteworthy given the state’s record low unemployment, aging demographics and widespread workforce shortages. Community college enrollment has historically been tied to the economy, going up during periods of high unemployment and declining when jobs are plentiful.

Fall enrollment increases have been driven in part by initiatives at campuses across the state. Among the new efforts are: doubling the number of visits to some high schools, replacing group orientations with one-on-one orientation sessions; reaching prospective students through texting instead of email; adding new high-demand programs including plumbing, HVAC and esports; and giving students new online tools to communicate with others to increase peer-to-peer connections.

Enrollment numbers for fall 2019 will be finalized in mid-October.

See the full release with graphics on the MCCS website.

CORRECTION: Data Reporting Deadlines That Impact Subsidy Calculations (ED279)

The initial post on 9/26/2019 indicated that the Student Data and Staff Data Certifications would both be due by October 15, 2019; we apologize for this error and have corrected the due dates below to October 31^st for both certified reports. The Student Data certification period begins on October 15, 2019 and ends on October 31, 2019. The Staff Data certification period begins after July 1, 2019 and also ends on October 31, 2019.

Please ensure that any revisions to the data collections are completed by October 31, 2019 so that the School Finance & Operations Teams have time to ensure that the collections are accurate prior to the start of the EPS FY 21 subsidy calculations in November.

The table below details data that has a direct impact on the calculation of an SAU’s subsidy. SAU’s can use the table to quickly assess what action they must take and by what deadline. The table also includes the follow up actions SAUs can expect from Maine Department of Education. The information in the table provides deadlines for reporting data errors, asking specific data questions, and when data revisions must be submitted to Maine DOE to be included in the SAU’s FY 21 EPS Funding Calculation. Please contact us with any questions!

Data Point	SAU Reporting Period	SAU Action Needed	Maine DOE Action
NEO Staff Data – Specifically but not limited to EPS positions – Teachers, Guidance, Librarians, Health, Education Technicians, Library Ed Techs, Clerical, School Administration	July 1, 2019 -October 31, 2019	Enter/Update Staff Data in the NEO Staff Module. Superintendent must certify the data is accurate Revision and certification/ recertification until 10/31/19 Data questions can be emailed to medms.helpdesk@maine.gov	Close Staff data entry 10/31/19 DOE staff begins data quality checks/data scrubbing 10/15/19 to 10/31/19 DOE contacts SAU staff as necessary to resolve inconsistencies and/or errors
Synergy Student Information System – 10/1/19 enrollment (Public Schools) including- attending students, resident students, superintendent transfer students, equivalent instruction (home school) students taking a course(s) in the district, economic disadvantaged students, English learners, special education students	October 1 – October 31, 2019	10/01/19-10/15/19 -Enter/Update Student Data in Synergy – Review data for accuracy and completeness in the October 1^st Student Enrollment Count report in the NEO Student Data moduleTop of Form Bottom of Form 10/15/19 – 10/31/19 -Superintendent must certify the data is accurate -Revision and certification/ recertification until 10/31/19 Data questions can be emailed to medms.helpdesk@maine.gov	Close Student data entry 10/31/19 DOE staff begins data quality checks/data scrubbing by 10/15/19 to 10/31/19 DOE contacts SAU staff as necessary to resolve inconsistencies and/or errors
Financial Data – FY19	August 23, 2019	Upload to the Maine Education Financial System (MEFS) FY19 – 7/1/18 to 6/30/19 Actual Expenditures FY19 7/1/18 to 6/30/19 Actual Revenues FY19 Balance Sheet Transactions	Maine DOE staff reviews financial data submissions DOE contacts SAU staff as necessary to resolve inconsistencies and/or errors
Financial Data – FY20	August 2, 2019	Upload to the Maine Education Financial System (MEFS) FY20 Revenue Budget FY20 Expenditure Budget Budget Approvals – Email Budget Meeting Referendum results including budget expenditure and revenue articles to Denise Towers. More detail guidance on can be found at: https://www.maine.gov/ doe/funding/accounting/guidance
ED279 Public Posting	February 1, 2020		Post public report, Preliminary ED279 – prior to February 1, 2020.
ED279 Review	March 3, 2020 or 30 days after the public posting of ED279	SAU superintendent and staff review the Preliminary ED279 Direct questions and notification of errors to the Maine DOE School Finance Team by 3/3/2020. Tyler Backus, Paula Gravelle or Ida Batista

Professional Learning Opportunity: Lenses on Learning- Leadership for Elementary Mathematics (3-Part Series)

Who is invited? This professional learning opportunity is specifically designed for a team from K-8 schools consisting of:

1 principal/mathematics coordinator
1 classroom teacher/mathematics coach

Why participate?

Strengthen your instructional leadership and supervision practices in mathematics
Strengthen your pedagogical and content knowledge in mathematics
Explore what it means to develop a stance of inquiry and ongoing learning about mathematics education
Examine what it means to engage students in active learning
Consider ways to develop a shared school vision of rigorous, accessible, and equitable mathematics teaching and learning
Compare assessment practices and ways to use assessment to improve student learning
Take away ideas and materials to use in your school and classrooms

What is our key goal? To provide you with experiences, information, and resources to guide you in key areas of school practice, leadership, and instructional strategies that have an impact on students’ mathematical learning.

What is our approach to professional development?

Do the math: Use video and hands-on explorations delve into key elementary mathematics concepts using multiple approaches, including manipulatives and visual representations.
Connect to research: Discuss readings that connect each topic to research and take away powerful research-based approaches, tools, and resources to use in your school and classrooms.
Collaborate: Work together and share ideas with other K-8 teams.
Leading change: Set goals and generate a plan for ongoing mathematics improvement for your school and classrooms.

Cost: $180.00 per team for all 3 sessions (includes continental breakfast, lunch, books, and materials for participants).

Contact hours: 24 hours

Registration: 8:00 am, Session 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

Locations:	Dates (Must attend all):	Registration Links:
*Keeley’s Banquet Center, Portland*	*11/5/19; 1/7/20; 3/24/20*	*Register for Portland Event*
*University of Maine, Farmington*	*11/6/19; 1/8/20; 3/25/20*	*Register for Farmington Even*t
*Northeastland Hotel, Presque Isle*	*11/19/19; 1/21/20; 3/17/20*	*Register for Presque Isle Event*
*Jeff’s Catering, Brewer*	*11/20/19; 1/22/20; 3/18/20*	*Register for Brewer Event*

Space is Limited! Apply by October 18, 2019

Questions? Contact: Michele Mailhot, Mathematics Specialist: 624-6829, michele.mailhot@maine.gov or Jen Robitaille, Elementary Mathematics Specialist: 624-6673, jennifer.r.robitaille@maine.gov

Maine DOE Update – September 26, 2019

From the Maine Department of Education

Reporting Items

Data Reporting Deadlines That Impact Subsidy Calculations (ED279)

Webinar to Assist with Staff Data Certification

To assist those who are responsible for the important task of reporting, validating and/or certifying staff data to the Department of Education, the DOE Data Team will be holding a webinar on Tuesday October 16^th.| More

Important Notice: October 1st Student Enrollment Reporting Opens Soon

The October 1^st Student Enrollment report will be opening on October 1, 2019 for review, and will be able to be certified by districts starting on October 15, 2019. The certification must be completed no later than October 31, 2019. | More

| Visit the DC&R Reporting Calendar |

News & Updates

Future Teachers Academy: Free Event for High School Students Interested in Exploring the Field of Education

Future Teachers Academy, an event for students who are interested in exploring the field of education, is being hosted by Thomas College and will be held on November 8th from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm on their campus at 180 West River Road in Waterville. | More

Maine Department of Education Provides Complimentary 2019-2020 Law Books to Superintendents

The Maine DOE acquired enough copies of the Maine Education and School Statutes 2019-2020 Edition law book from the publisher, Swan Island Press, to distribute one, at no charge, to each superintendent of schools in Maine. | More

Three Maine Schools Receive National Blue Ribbon School Honors

The U.S. Department of Education today announced three Maine schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2019. The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. | More

Get to know the DOE Team: Meet Dan Chuhta

Maine DOE team member Dan Chuhta is being highlighted this week as the part of a Get to know the DOE Team campaign! Learn a little more about Dan | More

Maine Schools Sharing Success Stories

| Submit your Maine School Success Story |

Professional Development & Training Opportunities

Free Emergency Management Training Sessions Available This Week Only

With this K-12 101 training, an expert team will provide an overview of a recommended six-step planning process to create a high-quality school EOP | More

| Visit the Professional Development Calendar |

Latest DOE Career/Project Opportunities

MEDIA RELEASE: Three Maine Schools Receive National Blue Ribbon School Honors

Cape Elizabeth High School, Cape Elizabeth Public Schools
Fruit Street School, Bangor School Department
Yarmouth High School, Yarmouth School Department

The National Blue Ribbon Schools award affirms the hard work of educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content.

Now in its 37th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed recognition on more than 9,000 schools. On November 14 and 15, the Secretary and the Department of Education will celebrate with 312 public and 50 non-public school honorees at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.

The Department recognizes all schools in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, student subgroup scores and graduation rates:

Exemplary High Performing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students.

Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year. The Department invites National Blue Ribbon School nominations from the top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by The Council for American Private Education (CAPE).

Photographs and brief descriptions of the 2019 National Blue Ribbon Schools are available at https://www.ed.gov/nationalblueribbonschools.

For more information contact Kelli Deveaux (207) 624-6747 or kelli.deveaux@maine.gov

Get to know the DOE Team: Meet Dan Chuhta

Maine DOE team member Dan Chuhta is being highlighted this week as the part of a Get to know the DOE Team campaign! Learn a little more about Dan in the brief question and answer below.

What are your roles with DOE?

I support the Commissioner in all aspects of the important work of the Department. I work closely with office directors and the Commissioner’s Office staff to provide effective leadership and support to our colleagues both in the field and across the the Department.

What do you like best about your job?

The part I like the best is the fact that no two days are the same, and that I can go from discussing early childhood education in the morning to school bus purchasing in the afternoon, with perhaps school funding, certification, legislation, adult education, social emotional learning, and career and technical education in between. I also enjoy the many opportunities to be out and about across the State, attending events that celebrate education, and collaborating with MDOE colleagues, as well others across state government, to support students, educators, and families in Maine.

How or why did you decide on this career?

Though I always knew that I wanted to be a teacher, I didn’t realize that some day I would become Deputy Commissioner! I thank the many teachers that I had, as well as the wonderful educators that I’ve had a chance to work alongside, for the inspiration, motivation and encouragement to continue doing important work in the name of public education!

What do you like to do outside of work for fun?

Being outside with my family! Our two kids (fourth and eighth grade) are at super ages for doing many things all year round. Some of our favorites include relaxing on the beach (preferably the ocean!), downhill skiing, running road races, travelling to see family (in many corners of the country) and visiting our beautiful State Parks!

Medomak Valley High School Art Teacher Receives Educator Innovation Award

Medomak Valley High School Art Teacher Krisanne Baker was recently awarded awarded a Bow Seat Educator Innovation Award recently for her commitment to inspiring students to make a difference for oceans and watersheds by teaching students about ocean conservation issues and engage them in creative action. Below is a description of Krisanne’s work provided by Bow Seat:

For the past 12 years, Krisanne’s personal art practice has focused on water quality. Knowing that our lives depend on the health of the ocean, she began a conversation about climate change in her art classrooms and found that no other teachers were addressing the subject. Krisanne developed the “Gulf of Maine: Dare to Care” curriculum to teach students how to use art to make a difference, specifically in ocean advocacy. When she offered her Studio Arts class the choice to work on Bow Seat’s Ocean Awareness Contest for an entire quarter and then submit their work to the competition, the students voted unanimously to do so! They learned how to make accurate scientific illustrations of endangered Gulf of Maine marine animals, then created slumped recycled glass renditions of their creatures, which will be a part of a display traveling from the town hall to local libraries to elementary schools.

Krisanne Baker is one of six winners internationally. Read more about the Bow Seat Educator Innovation Award.

MSSM Graduate Named Air Force Academy Cadet of the Year

Submitted by Ryan McDonald, Summer Programs Director and Public Relations Coordinator at Maine School of Science and Mathematics.

Congratulations to 2016 MSSM graduate Gordon McCulloh who has just been named the 2019 United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) cadet of the year at the Air Force Association’s Air, Space, and Cyber Conference in Washington D.C.

Gordon is working on a double major in Astronautical Engineering and Applied Math with an Arabic language minor. His current 3.92 GPA ranks him academically 16 of 992 academy cadets.

Highlights of Gordon’s USAFA career thus far include four weeks studying Arabic in Morocco, a six week internship with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, research on hybrid rocket combustion, and securing a $19,000 Stamps Scholarship which he used to intern with Ad Astra Rocket Company and the Air Force Research Laboratory.

Go Gordon and Go Air Force!