ADMINISTRATIVE LETTER: Local and State School Bus Bid and Purchase

Administrative Letter: 1
Policy Code: EEAEB
To: Public School Administrators, Business Managers, Transportation Directors, and School Bus Vendors
Date: 12/09/2022
Subject: Local and State School Bus Bid and Purchase

To assist and support school administrative units (SAUs) in their work to purchase school buses, the Maine Department of Education is providing clarification concerning the process to bid and purchase school buses.

This administrative letter replaces Administrative Letter #24 (2019). Administrative Letter #24 is no longer in effect and does not reflect the position of the Department of Education.

For a school bus purchase to be eligible for State subsidy, per 20-A M.R.S. § 5401(15) the school administrative unit (SAU) must:

(1) purchase the bus from the bidder selected through the State of Maine Division of Procurement school bus bid Request for Quotations (RFQ) for bus Type and capacity, or
(2) upon request, provide to the Department documentation that demonstrates the purchase was the result of a competitive bidding process conducted by the SAU following 20-A M.R.S § 5402 bid procedures or was made in the most economical manner consistent with the welfare and safety of students in accordance with 20-A M.R.S. § 5401(14).

For school buses purchased by a SAU when the SAU is not seeking subsidy, the SAU must still engage in competitive bidding, or make its purchase in the most economical manner, as outlined above.

SAU use of the Maine Department of Education’s School Bus Bid and Purchase System (SBBPS) is voluntary. SAUs are encouraged to contact Robert Susi at robert.w.susi@maine.gov with any questions about the SBBPS, transportation programs, or policy questions.

Student Writing Contest: ‘A Teacher Who Made a Positive Difference in Your Day’

The Maine County and State Teachers of the Year Association (MCSTOYA) and the Maine Council for English Language Arts (MCELA) have launched their inaugural Student Writing Contest. In honor of educators and #LoveTeaching week, they are inviting students to describe a teacher who has made a difference in their day, week, year, or life. Grade section winners will win a $100 gift card and an honorable mention in each section will win a $50 gift card.

Digital submissions must be uploaded and completed by 11:59 pm EST on Friday, January 13, 2023

To learn more about the writing prompts and rules for this contest, visit https://www.mainecela.org/student-writing-contest.html at MCELA’s website.

Download a flyer that you can print out.

For more information or questions, reach out to Maine County and State Teachers of the Year Association Board Member Heather Webster, heather_webster@msad40.org and/or Maine Council for English Language Arts President
Patti Forster, patti.forster@fivetowns.net.

Maine FIRST Lego League Championship Brings Together Twenty-Four Robotics Teams at Spruce Mountain High School

(Pictured: The RoboSharks in a team huddle before presenting to judges.)

The 23rd annual Maine FIRST Lego League Championship on December 3rd was another success with two dozen teams from around the state coming to Spruce Mountain High School. Hosted by the Blue Crew out Farmington, all 24 teams shared their innovation projects with judges in the morning and competed in the robot performance in the afternoon. Teams came from Brewer, Caribou, Jay, Oakland, Old Town, Vinalhaven, Winslow and other towns mentioned below to present their innovative projects to judges and test out their robot designs on the field.

The Champion’s Award went to the Smart Fun Engineers (Team 16492,), who, for the fifth consecutive year won the Robot Game Award with their robot’s high score of 270 points. They will now have an opportunity to represent Maine at the international FLL event in Texas in 2023. Their win included defeating the Gardiner Iron Tiger Cubs (Team 48102) in the “Just for Fun” playoff finals.

The fifth consecutive Champion’s Award for the Smart Fun Engineers was a thrill for these eighth graders who have been classmates and teammates for several years.

The Champion’s Finalist Award went to STEAM Powered Knights (Team 34104) from the St. George School. The team, led by coach Amy Palmer, is comprised of all new-to-the-game eighth graders. They performed strongly in the three judged areas – Core Values, Robot Design and Innovation Project.

Members of the STEAM Powered Knights present their innovation project that focused on transforming PFAS contaminated areas into solar farms.

The Core Values Award went to the team from the Leeds Central School (Team 52374), who exemplified inclusion and teamwork in their performances and projects. The Core Values Finalist Award went to the Smart Fun Scientists (Team 57933).

The Innovation Project Award went to the Legendary LEGO Coop Kids (Team 51454) from the Berwick area, who despite being a young team had another strong performance this year. The Innovation Project Finalist Award went to the RoboSharks (Team 14407) from the Shapleigh School in Kittery, who made an impressive debut at the event in a team of all fifth graders.

The Robot Design Award went to the Electronic Mustangs from the CK Burns School in Saco and the Robot Design Finalist Award went to the Renewable NRG Bars from Orono Middle School.

The Outstanding Volunteer Award went to Dr. Laura Guerney from UMaine, whose involvement in the FIRST Lego League events and mentoring of judges has been invaluable over the years. The Coach/Mentor Award went to Chris Herrick, whose positive and focused leadership has been key to the success of the young Legendary LEGO Coop Team in the past few years.

To learn more about opportunities for Robotics in Maine schools, check out Robotics Institute of Maine (RIM). For information about computer science in Maine schools, please check out the Maine Department of Education’s Computer Science page. If you have a robotics success story at your school, email jonathan.m.graham@maine.gov.

RSU 13 and Healthy Acadia Extended Learning Opportunity Coordinators Highlighted at First ELO Regional Day

Steffany Tribou, an 18-year education veteran and Assistant Superintendent for RSU 13 (pictured right), and Corrie Hunkler, ELO & Youth Engagement Coordinator at Healthy Acadia (pictured left) were panelists at JMG’s first North Regional Connection Event for Extended Learning Opportunity (ELO) Coordinators recently.

JMG’s Regional ELO Coaches are hosting bi-annual Regional Connection Events in the North, Central, and South regions of Maine, with Central and South scheduled for the week of 12/12 (read more about the schedule here). The events are intended to bring together education, workforce, and others interested in ELO work to share best practices, which is what Tribou and Hunkler are doing.

In her role at Healthy Acadia, Hunkler is the director for Downeast Teen Leadership Camp, a camp designed and led by youth. She runs youth employment programs and supports schools and organizations to engage youth in meaningful ways. Prior to her role with Healthy Acadia, she was a Guidance Counselor at four rural schools. As an ELO coordinator she is working with 5 schools to design, implement, and expand ELO offerings in coastal Washington County.

In her many roles in schools and districts, Tribou has always been passionate about finding ways to better prepare students for their future, and has been instrumental in seeing internships and ELOs taking hold, which she feels is important work that breathes life into what education can look like for students in Maine. During her presentation, Tribou shared a rap that she created based on the Hamilton play. The rap emphasized the need for ELOs to be available to Maine students in order to support a healthy economic future for Maine and the people who live here. Check out audio of the rap here.

Extended Learning Opportunities (ELOs) are hands-on, credit-bearing courses outside of the traditional classroom with an emphasis on community-based career exploration. These opportunities are personalized for students and help them explore options for their professional lives. They help students engage in learning through instruction, assignments, and experiential learning. The Maine Department of Education (DOE), along with state-wide partner Jobs for Maine Graduates (JMG), have made a concerted effort to provide working models, support, and funding opportunities for Maine schools to set up ELO programs within their school communities. To learn more about Maine’s initiatives with extended learning opportunities, visit: https://www.maine.gov/doe/index.php/learning/elo or reach out to Maine DOE ELO Coordinator Rick Wilson at rick.wilson@maine.gov.

Announcing the Monthly Multi-tiered System of Supports (MTSS) Book Club

Interested in learning MORE about MTSS (multi-tiered system of supports)? Consider joining the MTSS monthly book club! That’s right, book club is back! Feedback from the summer book club was overwhelmingly positive, so that is the format we will use for MTSS book study for this school year. Details for signing up are below.

Here is how it works. Register for the book club or clubs that you would like to attend. Next, get yourself a copy of the text and read it at your own pace on your own schedule. Then, show up on the date of that book club and be ready to pose thoughts, questions, and other innovative ideas to your peers. While not necessary, it would be helpful to keep written notes to capture your thinking as you read the text. That’s it! You will receive 2 hours of professional learning units when you join and participate for the full 2-hour book session.

The text(s) that we will discuss are as follows:

January 30th from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM – Leading Equity-based MTSS For All Students – This book is geared toward school principals, strategists, and other school/district decision-makers. The book outlines a process for building MTSS from the ground up and is full of templates that can be used in MTSS implementation and design. Although not required, this book is best experienced with a team. Sign up for Leading Equity-based MTSS.
February 27th from 4:00 PM-6:00 PM – Effective Universal Instruction – Back by popular demand, this is an encore book club of a past title: Effective Universal Instruction. Principals, classroom teachers, special ed teachers, strategists, and gifted and talented (GT) teachers can all benefit from this text. While mostly centered around tier 1, this book briefly touches on tier 2, and tier 3, as well as some philosophical, historical, and future planning perspectives and activities. Sign up for Effective Universal Instruction.
March 27th 4:00 PM-6:00 PM – Demystifying MTSS – This book is appropriate for classroom educators, principals, and instructional coaches/strategists, and gifted and talented teachers and is geared toward anyone who is looking for practical actions school improvement teams can take to ensure all students’ diverse needs can be met. Although not required, this book is best experienced with a team. Sign up for Demystifying MTSS.
April 25th 4:00 PM-6:00 PM – Best Practices at Tier 1 – Elementary Level – This book offers an opportunity for elementary principals, teachers, strategists, and GT teachers to come together to chat about some specific best practices in Tier 1. From Amazon, “Created specifically for K-5 educators, this book provides proven response to intervention strategies to differentiate instruction, engage students, increase success, and avoid additional interventions.” Sign up for Best Practices in Tier 1 – Elementary.
May 30th 4:00 PM-6:00 PM – Best Practices in Tier 1: Secondary Level – Calling all secondary teachers, principals, strategists, support staff, etc. This book club is just for you! This book does exactly what it says…. it explores best practices in tier 1 at the secondary level. Join this book club and can learn alongside fellow secondary educators across the state. Sign up for Best Practices in Tier 1 Secondary.
June 28th 4:00 PM-6:00 PM – The Road to Success with MTSS – This book is appropriate for classroom educators, principals, and instructional coaches/strategists, and gifted and talented teachers and is geared toward anyone who is beginning an MTSS implementation journey or is preparing to revise current MTSS practices. Sign up for The Road to Success with MTSS.

For more information about the Monthly MTSS Book Club, you can contact Andrea Logan, MTSS Specialist, at andrea.logan@maine.gov. If possible, please put “book club question” in the subject line.

Media Release: Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin Visits Nokomis Regional Middle and High Schools to Highlight Maine’s Leadership During Computer Science Education Week

In celebration of Computer Science Education Week, Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin visited Nokomis Regional Middle School and High Schools to showcase how Maine is leading the nation in offering universal computer science education to all students at all grade levels in the state. Through the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund, the Maine Department of Education provided every Maine public school with a free mobile computer science lab to ensure that every student, pre-K through grade 12, has access to interdisciplinary, project-based computer science education with real-world applications.

“We are the first state in the nation to provide universal access to computer science education for all pre-K through grade 12 students,” said Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin. “Computer science encourages students to think outside of the box and to solve problems creatively. This is authentic, engaged learning with students using the skills and strategies of computer science to solve real world problems and share their knowledge. Seeing this teaching and learning has been inspirational beyond words. These students are engaged, working collaboratively, and have immense pride in the projects they are working on. When you have educators who are so openhearted, openminded, and eager to share, they are inspiring their students and peers across the state.”

At Nokomis Regional Middle School, Makin met with sixth grade students and their educators who provided live demonstrations of the robotics projects they completed from equipment available to all Maine schools. Students designed, coded, and built their robotics projects while also strengthening their teamwork, collaboration, and communication skills. Students worked asynchronously with a teammate and had to provide notes, video updates, and other status updates. All students attend computer science education at Nokomis, with each grade level building on the skills and knowledge they learned in the previous grade. Fifth graders engage in projects focused on building teamwork and compete using cars and boats they build, sixth graders expand on those skills as showcased for the Commissioner, seventh graders add in production skills by building skateboards, and eighth graders build 3D design skills. The projects can also be integrated across all content areas.

Students at Nokomis Regional High School continue to build on the real-world skills and knowledge they learned in middle school while also sharing that knowledge with others. Makin joined a group of Student Leadership Ambassadors of Maine (SLAM) as they broadcast a live show to 37 other schools across the state to share their skills and knowledge with their peers.

“This is not a separate class—it’s an extension of every class,” said Keith Kelley, Innovative Technology Teacher at Nokomis Regional Middle School. “Students are building the robots, they learn coding, they compete, they are doing technical reading, they are having to learn how to virtually interact with a classmate and document their work to share with that teammate. It’s real-world engagement and our classes all build on each other. These projects can also be integrated into every content area so it’s fabulous the state is offering this to all schools. Kids live in a virtual world—and they are learning to use technology ethically, efficiently, and safely through hands-on engagement and working with others.”

“You don’t have to be a technology teacher to engage in computer science education. I was a language arts teacher and a librarian—any teacher can do this,” said Kelley.

Through the mobile computer science lab program, schools were able to order one of three mobile lab options: Robotics and Programming, Augmented and Virtual Reality, and Coding and Hardware. Each lab contains computer science equipment valued at $5,000 and is designed to be integrated into any content area and skill level. Additionally, the DOE is providing free professional learning opportunities for educators.

The DOE has a comprehensive computer science education plan guided by seven key principles: authentic and project-based instruction, computer science as a prek-12 learning continuum, equitable and inclusive access, educator-produced professional learning and statewide sharing, integrated applied learning, educator-informed policy and state planning, and computational thinking as a foundation. You can read more about Maine’s computer science education framework here.

School Absenteeism Reporting

As absences due to illness begin to impact schools across the state at increased rates, the DOE Data Team reminds school administrative units (SAUs) that schoolwide absences that meet or exceed 15% of the student population need to be reported.

This report is required to be done as needed based on 15% or more absences.

Nurses and/or school staff responsible for reporting illness-based absences will need access to NEO Student Health. Access to NEO must be requested by the superintendent of schools via an Access Request form. Staff members must be added into NEO Staff prior to submitting the Access Request. If the staff member has not been added into NEO staff, the request will not be processed.

Resources for locating and completing this report:

For questions regarding the submission of this report please contact MEDMS.Helpdesk@maine.gov or call 207-624-6896

Celebrating Playful Learning in Pre-K Expansion Classrooms

Laughter and rich conversations fill the air as teachers join students in purposeful play in Pre-K Expansion Grant classrooms across the State. Play based learning promotes engagement, curiosity and creativity. When teachers join children in their play they can scaffold learning opportunities, model language, introduce complex vocabulary and prompt deeper thinking through effective questioning. Play provides an opportunity for social learning and the development of executive functioning skills. In play, both the heart and the mind of the child are nurtured, reducing behavioral issues and supporting wellbeing while building the skills they need to be successful in school and beyond.

Pre-K children engage in a variety of different types of play in centers or interest areas in their classroom. Real-life imaginary play is incorporated into the dramatic play and building areas in Appleton’s new Pre-K classroom. This type of play allows children to think beyond the confines of their classroom and use their imaginations as they explore ways to use the materials they have to represent what they see in their minds. This type of play not only fosters creativity, but it also lays the foundation for symbolic representation with letters and numerals.

Maine DOE Contract Grant Specialist, Jane Kirsling, gets her temperature checked in the dramatic play area during a visit this fall.

Educational Technician, Natalie Kunzinger, joins children in the block area where they are using magnetic blocks to build houses.

Creativity and problem solving are integral parts of play in the art area. Children in the Greenville Pre-K classroom use art materials to express themselves and create projects based on a story their teacher has read to them. Concepts of color, shape, texture, and position are built through conversations about their work. Teachers support children in developing important problem-solving skills when they join children in their play, and help to build growth mindsets by letting children try out their own ideas, and by encouraging them to try again if they are not successful.

Education Technician, Erin Denham, supports Pre-K children as they problem solve how to attach the curly pipe cleaner tails to their pig pinata.

Teachers do a lot of work behind the scenes to make play purposeful. They carefully plan centers and other learning activities around central themes and make intentional connections between the activities to help children see the purpose in what they are doing. While there is always a place for intentional instruction, Pre-K teachers work to bring playful elements to their lessons.

Greenville teacher, Allison Boulier, builds letter identification skills by having her class go on a letter hunt.

Teacher, Monica Jodrey from Cave Hill School in RSU 24 integrated science, math, fine motor and language development into a pumpkin exploration that kept her whole class engaged for the afternoon

Pre-K classrooms are busy places. Play affords the opportunity to support learning across all domains and can even make “down time” a productive learning opportunity. Pre-K teacher, Marion Freehill, from Peninsula School in RSU 24, captured the enthusiasm her class had for their fire fighter puppets. You can also see the work her students have created to reflect on their play during centers time. Capturing their thoughts in writing helps them to see their ideas as important and is the first stage in them seeing themselves as writers.

Pre-K students enjoy putting on a puppet show at snack time each day.

If you wonder about the value of children spending most of their day playing in our Pre-k classrooms, don’t worry! In the words of Maria Montessori, “Play is the work of the child”. Even the American Academy of Pediatrics agrees. In 2018 they released a clinical report advising that doctors write prescriptions for play. In the report they said, “Play is not frivolous; it is brain building” and lauded play as being fundamentally important to learning problem solving, collaboration and creativity. But perhaps Lenore Skenazy, president of the non-profit Let Grow which promotes childhood independence and resiliency, put it best, “Play turns out to be so stunningly essential to childhood it’s like love, sunshine and broccoli all juiced together”.

The classrooms included in this article are all beneficiaries of the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan’s Pre-K Expansion Grant. The grant supports districts beginning new Pre-K classrooms or expanding the hours or number of days they serve students in existing programs. Ten districts across the state were recipients in the first round of grants. Round two awards will be announced soon.

If you have questions or would like more information about Public Pre-K, the Pre-K Expansion Grant or the importance of play in early education, please contact Sue Gallant Maine DOE Pre-K Expansion Consultant at Sue.Gallant@maine.gov and/or Nicole Madore Maine DOE Early Childhood Specialist at Nicole.Madore@maine.gov.

Lowell Oyster Named 2023 Maine’s National Outstanding Assistant Principal of the Year

The Maine Principals’ Association (MPA) is pleased to announce that Lowell Oyster, Assistant Principal of Bonny Eagle Middle School in Buxton, has been named Maine’s National Outstanding Assistant Principal of the Year. He will be honored by the MPA at its annual awards banquet at the Spring Conference on April 27, 2023, at the Samoset Resort in Rockport, Maine.

Mr. Oyster received this award because of his strong emphasis on community outreach. He has the ability to build connections across diverse stakeholders and goes to extraordinary lengths to meet the needs of students and staff. He loves being an assistant principal and believes it is the best job in the world.

In announcing Mr. Oyster’s selection as 2023 Maine’s National Outstanding Assistant Principal of the Year, MPA Executive Director, Dr. Holly Blair noted, “The MPA is pleased to recognize Lowell Oyster as Maine’s National Outstanding Assistant Principal of the Year. He is a reflective educational leader who people seek out and look to for guidance and leadership. Mr. Oyster focuses on the strengths of the people he works with to lift and accentuate each team member, making the overall school community stronger.”

Mr. Oyster received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Maine, Orono, in 2005. In 2007, he earned his Master of Science Degree in Middle Level Education also from UMaine. He then obtained his Certificate of Advanced Studies from the University of Southern Maine in 2015.

Mr. Oyster started his educational career as a math/science teacher at Bonny Eagle Middle School in 2007. During this time, he took on the following school and/or district level leadership positions: Clan Leader, Symposium Leader, Math Meet Coordinator, Continuous Improvement Team member, Certification Steering Committee member, and was the 7^th grade Baseball Coach. In 2017, Mr. Oyster became the Assistant Principal of Bonny Eagle where he has served in this capacity ever since.

Mr. Lowell Oyster is a member of the Maine Principals’ Association and National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP).

The Maine Principals’ Association is a professional association representing Maine’s Pre-K-12 educational leaders. The Association dates its history back to 1921 and focuses its work on promoting the principalship, educational leadership, and promoting and administering interscholastic activities in grades 9-12.

Augusta Adult and Community Education Partner with Literacy Volunteers of Kennebec

(Picture Left to Right: Kayla Sikora, Director of Augusta Adult and Community Education, Virginia Marriner, Executive Director of Literacy Volunteers of Kennebec, and Kelli Gilzow Stowell, Community Enrichment Coordinator at Augusta Adult and Community Education)

Augusta Adult and Community Education is pleased to announce their partnership with Literacy Volunteers of Kennebec to provide literacy support in the classroom for learners who have been identified with low literacy levels. Literacy Volunteers of Kennebec will work with students individually and/or in small groups to help them with reading comprehension and assigned classroom work.

In addition to volunteering in the classroom, Literacy Volunteers will also be partnering with Augusta Adult and Community Education and the Buker Community Center to offer Community Scrabble Events. Participants can play individually or with a team and we will host a Scrabble Tournament on April 1st, 2023.

Literacy Volunteers of Kennebec and Augusta Adult and Community Education were both participants in the United Way of Kennebec Valley’s IMPACT2032, a process to develop a vision to improve the lives of the people of Kennebec County across the domains of health, education and financial stability. It is through this type of partnership and working together that we can improve the well-being of our community.

“Partnering with Literacy Volunteers offers an extra layer of support that many of our students need. Being able to provide our students with free tutoring is a step in the right direction to help our students achieve their education goals. Taking our partnership with Literacy Volunteers a step further and offering Community Scrabble Events is another way to help promote lifelong learning and community engagement. I believe in the power and importance of lifelong learning and community engagement. As the director of Augusta Adult and Community Education, I could not be more excited about this partnership.” -Kayla Sikora, Director of Augusta Adult and Community Education

“To be able to bring Scrabble back to our community is exciting. LV Scrabble Events have not taken place since March of 2020. Tutoring is exceptional for our students but Scrabble is fun!”- Kelli Gilzow Stowell, Community Enrichment Coordinator at Augusta Adult and Community Education

“Literacy Volunteers of Kennebec is very pleased to be able to continue a collaborative relationship with Augusta Adult and Community Education. The Memorandum of Understanding with Augusta Adult and Community Education supports a strong collaboration with the teaching staff and Director of Augusta Adult Education to provide literacy support.

Improving adult literacy can have a significant positive impact. Adults with less education are more likely to have incomes below the poverty threshold and in the general Kennebec Valley area of those age 25 and older, nearly one-third (29%) of those without a high school diploma are living in poverty. This collaboration can help to change those numbers for the better, helping people to have equal access to education.”- Virginia Marriner, Executive Director of Literacy Volunteers of Kennebec