Stephanie Galeucia has been named the Maine DOE’s new Student Assistance Coordinator. Among her primary responsibilities in this role are providing indirect support to students being bullied in Maine schools and helping parents and administrators better understand the Restraint and Seclusion of Students rule. Continue reading “DOE introduces new Student Assistance Coordinator”
Category: Health and Safety
School security strengthened since Sandy Hook
On Saturday, many of us paused to remember the courage of so many in the face of the evil of one on the anniversary of the senseless school shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary. Just one day before, a 17-year-old senior was critically injured by a classmate, who later shot himself, in a shooting at Arapahoe High School in Centennial, Colorado, just 10 miles away from Columbine, another tragic reminder of our need to always be prepared even for the most unthinkable.
Here in Maine, schools have always taken the safety and security of their students and staff seriously, but even more so since Newtown. Continue reading “School security strengthened since Sandy Hook”
Maine Youth Health Survey data now available
The results of the 2013 Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey (MIYHS) are now available.
State, public health district and county level data on public school students in grades 5 through 12 are now online on the survey website at https://data.mainepublichealth.gov/miyhs/. Data for kindergarten through grade 3 survey data are not available because of a low response rate. Continue reading “Maine Youth Health Survey data now available”
Maine CDC offers teachers tobacco training
Teachers who want to learn how to better talk to youth tobacco users may benefit from free trainings offered throughout the state in December and January by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Comprehensive Cancer Control Program. Continue reading “Maine CDC offers teachers tobacco training”
Maine Safe Routes to School grants available
Grants are now available to Maine schools through the Maine Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program, a federally-funded partnership of the Maine Department of Transportation, the Bicycle Coalition of Maine and communities throughout the state working to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety and encourage more students to walk and bike to school. Continue reading “Maine Safe Routes to School grants available”
Superintendent feedback needed on school security
The Maine Legislature recently passed L.D. 905, a resolve directing the Maine DOE to examine school security and work with security experts. As part of our efforts, we have developed a short survey and request that each superintendent offer feedback on this important topic by completing it at http://tinyurl.com/meschoolsecuritysurvey. Your response is requested no later than Friday, Dec. 13 so a nationally-recognized security consultant can analyze the results for a report to the Legislature. Continue reading “Superintendent feedback needed on school security”
Oct. 21-25 National Digital Citizenship Week
Common Sense Media has declared Oct. 21-25 as National Digital Citizenship Week to teach students about being safe and smart online. Maine educators are invited to engage students in grade-appropriate lessons about what it means to be online, which may help students identify and stand up to cyberbullying.
Continue reading “Oct. 21-25 National Digital Citizenship Week”
Transfer decisions refocused on student best interest
AUGUSTA – Starting today, superintendents who reject a parent’s request to send their child to school in another district will have to explain why that transfer would not be in the best interest of the student.
Under Maine law, a parent who believes it is in the best interest of their child to attend school in a different district than where the student lives can request the two superintendents agree to a transfer.
Continue reading “Transfer decisions refocused on student best interest”
Web-based course prepares educators for mass-casualty incidents
The Federal Emergency Management Agency offers a three-hour, web-based training that provides leading practices and resources to assist elementary and secondary schools, institutions of higher education and houses of worship in developing emergency plans. The training, titled “Preparing for Mass-Casualty Incidents: A Guide for Schools, Higher Education and Houses of Worship,” will help audiences prepare for, respond to and recover from mass-casualty incidents.
Continue reading “Web-based course prepares educators for mass-casualty incidents”
Participate in nationwide earthquake drill
On Oct. 16, 2012, a 4.5 magnitude earthquake hit the State of Maine, centered in northern York County, and was felt as far south as New Jersey. A year and a day later, on Oct. 17 at 10:17 a.m., schools, communities, families and businesses are invited to join the Great NorthEast ShakeOut, a multi-state earthquake drill spanning nine Northeast region states.
Continue reading “Participate in nationwide earthquake drill”
Maine DOE Newsroom 