Educator Quality and Effectiveness Survey past due

The Friday June 16, 2012,  deadline for the completion of the annual Educator Quality Effectiveness Survey has passed. If your school district has not yet completed the survey, please do so without delay to ensure timely collection of this ARRA-required education reform assurance compliance reporting. Continue reading “Educator Quality and Effectiveness Survey past due”

EPA advises schools to protect indoor air quality

Smart summer shutdown is essential for maintaining healthy indoor environments in schools. During these warmer months, school or district staff can take preventative and proactive actions to protect indoor air quality and save energy costs. The Maine DOE School Facilities team is sharing the following tips from the U.S. EPA on summer shutdown of buildings.

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Funding available for building renovations

The Department of Education will be accepting applications for funding of school renovation projects through the School Revolving Renovation Fund. The Department will be able to approve approximately $10 million in SRRF loans. A portion of each loan will be considered a grant and will be forgiven, and the remaining portion will be paid back over five or 10 years at zero percent interest.

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Online bomb threat reporting form available

UPDATED: Pat Hinckley is the new Maine DOE contact for all issues related to bomb threats. Please see her contact information below.

In the instance of a bomb threat, public schools and private schools in which at least 60 percent of students are enrolled at public expense are required by law to notify the Commissioner of the threat within two business days.

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Charter School Commission to hold first public hearings

The following is a news release from the Maine Charter School Commission.

AUGUSTA—The Maine Charter School Commission will hold public hearings on June 15 and 18 regarding three applications it received from groups seeking to open charter schools. Members of the public are invited to attend and encouraged to offer testimony in favor or opposition, as well as to submit written comments.

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Pesticide Board seeks public input on rulemaking initiatives

Before the Maine Board of Pesticides Control initiates formal rulemaking and the public hearing process on the rules listed below, it plans to hold two public information gathering workshops, where the public is invited to offer informal comment on the proposed changes. Several of the changes affect the use of pesticides at schools. The workshops will be held during the Board’s June 15 meeting in Augusta and its July 27 meeting in Presque Isle.

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