FREE Virtual Professional Development for School Transportation Teams July 30-31

Provided by Transfinder, sponsored by Maine Deptartment of Education. Held Thursday, July 30 – Friday, July 31, 2020

DAY ONE

Thursday, July 30
Register for Day 1: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4579505920092838411

Agenda

Glimpse Into the Transfinder Future
9:00 am – 10:00 am

This session will build your excitement for the new technology being developed at Transfinder. See the next generation of Wayfinder Navigation allowing drivers to benefit from turn-by-turn voice guidance. Learn about Tripfinder for managing field trip requests and secure access for district personnel to submit requests and track approvals. Stopfinder, the All-in-One parent engagement app, brings enhanced communication with parents and district administration through push notifications, 2-way messaging and GeoAlerts. And Routefinder PLUS – the next generation of Routefinder Pro. This easy-to-us, full-featured browser-based transportation solution is revolutionizing school transportation with Faster, Safer and Smarter routing.

Routefinder Pro 101
10:15 am – 12:15 pm

Welcome to Routefinder Pro! Routefinder Pro is a powerful, easy-to-use school bus routing, scheduling and planning solution. By attending this session, you will learn the basics of navigating through Routefinder Pro by learning the tools available in the toolbar, how to look up data, and using your maps to begin creating trips. You will walk away with knowing how to set trip criteria, stop creation, driving paths and timing. In addition, you will know how to create trip reports once your routes are complete.

Field Trips with Infofinder Le: Part 1
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Infofinder le is a web-based solution that leverages your investment in Routefinder Pro by providing an unlimited number of designated district personnel access to your student and trip information. In this session you will get an overview of the entire Infofinder le program, learn how to create user accounts for district personnel, and begin learning how to configure the fields of the Field Trip Request Form. You will know how to use the security module in Routefinder Pro to set access rights for the user accounts of district personnel, so they can access Student and Trip data, run reports and request and approve Field Trip requests electronically.

Field Trips with Infofinder Le: Part 2
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm

In Part 2 of this session you will learn how to adjust the Infofinder le system settings and create a message for the Infofinder le homepage. You will also walk through the steps of how to request and approve a Field Tip request, assign resources to a Field Trip, and complete a Field Trip Request Form. In addition to the above, at the end of the session you will know how to run and print driver sheets and invoices, populate dropdown lists for users and set up easy billing.

Wayfinder
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Wayfinder is Transfinder’s All-In-One In-Vehicle App. Enhance your fleet by using Wayfinder to Build Routes and Navigate all from your mobile device. In this session you will learn how Wayfinder can help you prepare for the upcoming school year and use the navigation feature which will safely and clearly guide your drivers along the planned trip as well as tracking student attendance as you arrive at each stop. At the end of the session you will know how to add routes to Routefinder Pro using a tablet or smartphone
and create stops with the click of a button

DAY TWO

Friday, July 31, 2020
Register for Day 2: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7905766088626871051

Agenda:

Viewfinder
8:30 am – 9:30 am

With Viewfinder you can monitor the day-to-day operations of your transportation department from any computer. Quickly access updates on students, trips, field trips, vehicles, and staff to ensure your operation is running smoothly. In this session you will learn how to use Viewfinder to gain powerful insights into your operation. At the end
of the session you will walk away knowing how to use the dashboards and automated reporting function so you can monitor the Transportation Department from outside Routefinder Pro.

Servicefinder – Part 1
10:00 am – 11:00 am

Servicefinder simplifies fleet maintenance to help reduce costs, reduce vehicle downtime, extend vehicle life, increase technician productivity, maintain lower inventory levels and extend better control of personnel and vendors. In this session you will learn the tools and functions available in the Dashboard, Driver Portal and more. You will walk away with a greater understanding of how to use these tools to help you tackle the complex administrative tasks associated with keeping your fleet running smoothly.

Servicefinder – Part 2
11:30 am – 12:30 pm

In Part 2 you will learn how to import data for buses and parts, and use the Quick-Add method to enter and maintain the system. You will explore the Control Panel configuration, and learn how to make the most of customizable options and settings.
By the end of the session you will know the process for receiving inventory and how to generate work orders.

A Message from Maine Education Commissioner Regarding Fall 2020 Survey

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kelli Deveaux

The Maine Department of Education has released a special video message from Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin and other key leaders from the Department to encourage and remind the people of Maine to provide input for ensuring a safe return to classroom instruction. Video can be viewed, here.

Maine DOE continues to work with educators and health experts from across the State to develop health markers and corresponding plans to ensure the safe return to classroom instruction. As this work develops, the Department is seeking input from additional stakeholders from across the State through a series of surveys that were released on July 6.

The surveys, available for families, educators, student support providers, and school and district leaders, are available through July 12. The data and feedback will be compiled by a research group and considered by the team who will continue to revise the Department’s Draft Framework for Returning to Classroom Instruction over the next month.

Your participation in these surveys is greatly appreciated in preparation for the next school year. Our fervent hope is that our continued trends in the battle against COVID-19 here in Maine will allow our schools to resume classroom instruction for the start of the 2020-2021 school year, as our schools serve as a stabilizing force for our communities, students, families and the economy. All of our energy and efforts are going into helping to provide support and guidance to schools and families who are making extraordinarily difficult decisions.

###

Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Seeking Nominations for MAITC Teacher of the Year Award

Maine Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC) is currently seeking nominations for their 2021 Teacher of the Year Award. This award is for any Maine elementary or secondary school teacher who uses agricultural education materials and/or activities in the classroom to teach core subjects.

The winning teacher will get to attend the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference (in Des Moines, Iowa on June 28 – July 1, 2021) and the MAITC 2021 Summer Teacher’s Institute, free of charge.

The application deadline for the MAITC Teacher of the Year Award is October 1st. Applications and more information about the award are available on the M AITC website.

For more information on Maine Agriculture in the Classroom, contact Willie Sawyer Grenier, executive director, at maitca@maine.gov or 207-287-5522.

Maine Department of Education Survey on Fall 2020

The Maine Department of Education will be releasing surveys to gather input about the safe return to classroom instruction today at noon, and would like to hear from our school community members! Our research partners are finalizing 10 translated versions for families/caregivers, which will be posted as soon as they become available. The official DOE surveys can be found at: https://www.maine.gov/doe/fall2020survey.

Maine DOE Data Management Systems Summer Training 2020-2021

The Maine Department of Education Data Team will be holding their annual summer trainings during the last two weeks of July and the first two weeks of August. The focus this year will be on tips and resources to assist School Administrative Units (SAUs) with data reporting and with viewing/certifying reports.

Training sessions this year will be held remotely utilizing the GoToWebinar™ application.
All training sessions will begin with a presentation and conclude with a topical Q&A. Please feel free to register for as many sessions as you would like.
Sessions are duplicated to ensure as much availability as possible.
All sessions will be recorded and posted to the Helpdesk’s Webinar Page .
These training sessions are not necessarily intended for individuals who are brand new to state required reporting.

The MEDMS helpdesk is now offering one on one onboard training for SAU and school staff that are new to state required reporting. To request this training, simply email the MEDMS helpdesk at MEDMS.Helpdesk@Maine.gov and request our new user training. Please note that these trainings will be held as helpdesk availability allows.

Training Sessions, Dates and Times

What’s New for 2021 & Online Resources – A presentation of all of the new staff and student data requirements for the 2020-2021 school year. We will also review the helpful online resources available to SAU and school staff charged with required state reporting

July 21^st @ 10AM – 12PM Register Now
August 11th @ 10AM – 12PM Register Now

Student Upload Error Messages – This presentation will focus on understanding the various possible error messages that you may receive when uploading student data to Synergy State Edition.

August 6th @ 1PM – 3PM Register Now
August 13th @ 10AM – 12PM Register Now

Updating and Maintaining Contact Information – In this session we will be discussing why this data is important, how this data is used by the Department and how to keep staff contact information up to date.

August 4th @ 10AM – 11AM Register Now
August 13th @ 1PM – 2PM Register Now

NEO Staff Refresher – A refresher of the NEO Staff module including data entry, associated reports and helpful resources.

August 4th @ 1PM – 3PM Register Now
August 11th @ 1PM – 3PM Register Now

Externally Managed Data – (EL, Migrant, Foster Care, Residential, Direct Certification, etc.…) – A presentation focused on exploring and explaining student data elements that are derived from sources outside of the reporting SAU.

July 21^st @ 1PM – 3PM Register Now
August 6th @ 10AM – 12PM Register Now

Student Reports – This session will cover all of the various reports in the NEO Student Reports module.

July 22^nd @ 10AM – 12PM Register Now
August 12th @ 1PM – 3PM Register Now

Home Instruction – Presenting of the NEO Home Instruction module, how it works, who it is for, as well as any updates for the 2021 school year.

July 22^nd @ 1PM – 3PM Register Now
August 12th @ 10AM – 12PM Register Now

Review of Enrollment Guidance Document – In this session we will be reviewing one of our most valuable online resources, our Enrollment Guidance document. This document depicts unique enrollment situations and who is responsible for what data requirements in these situations.

August 5th @10AM – 12PM Register Now
August 10th @ 1PM – 3PM Register Now

MEDIA RELEASE: Department of Education to Release Statewide Survey to Inform Framework for Returning to Classroom Instruction

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 2, 2020

Contact: Kelli Deveaux

Department of Education to Release Statewide Survey to Inform Framework for Returning to Classroom Instruction

Maine Department of Education continues to work with educators and health experts from across the State to develop health markers and corresponding plans to ensure the safe return to classroom instruction. As this work develops, the Department is seeking input from additional stakeholders from across the State, and will release a survey on July 6.

On June 11, 2020 the Department of Education released the first draft of a framework to assist school administrative units (SAUs) in developing their plans and determining their capacity to meet the national CDC guidelines for safely returning to classroom instruction. This draft framework will continue to evolve and will be developed based on science and community health markers.

The framework was created with input from a diverse group of stakeholders, and included education and health experts, students, parents, education advocates and leaders. We have worked with a research organization to develop a survey through which educators and support professionals, education leaders, and families of students can provide comment and share their opinions on the 2020-2021 school year and possible models and needs for a safe return to classroom instruction.

Four different surveys have been created, specific to the role of the person completing the survey, including: 1. Teachers and educational technicians; 2: School or SAU leadership; 3: Specialists and student support staff or 4. Family member. The surveys will be available at https://www.maine.gov/doe/fall2020survey beginning July 6 through July 12. The Family Survey is available in 11 languages.

The data and feedback will be compiled by the research group and considered by the team who will continue to revise the framework over the next month. While these surveys will provide a snapshot at the state and county level, many superintendents have asked for and are reviewing their own community-specific information, which will inform the work of their Collaborative Planning Team in developing instructional plans that will be responsive to risk levels.

Your participation in these surveys is greatly appreciated in preparation for the next school year. Our fervent hope is that our continued trends in the battle against COVID-19 here in Maine will allow our schools to resume classroom instruction for the start of the 2020-2021 school year, as our schools serve as a stabilizing force for our communities, students, families and the economy. Yet, it is prudent at this time to both hope for the best, and prepare for many possible scenarios.

###

PRIORITY NOTICE: Invitation to a Conceptual Conversation Regarding Rule Chapter 124: Basic Approval Standards for Public Preschool

Since July 1, 2017, school approval standards governing implementation of public preschool programs in Maine have been in effect, as authorized by Title 20-A, Maine Revised Statutes, Chapters 203 and 206. Now that these rules, incorporated in Rule Chapter 124, have been in effect for several years, and in preparation for continued expansion of public preschool programming, the Maine Department of Education (Maine DOE) invites interested stakeholders to attend a conceptual conversation related to the rule on July 14, 2020 from 1pm-3pm via Zoom. The conceptual conversation will be an opportunity to provide feedback on current implementation of the Rule. If you are interested in being part of the conversation, please register, and a link will be provided.

The Department intends to take the following steps with respect to review of Chapter 124:

1. On July 14, 2020, stakeholders are invited to attend a conceptual conversation which will be facilitated by Early Learning Team Coordinator Lee Anne Larsen, Early Childhood Specialist Nicole Madore, and Federal/State Liaison Jaci Holmes. This conversation will be guided by the following discussion prompts:

What aspects of Chapter 124 promote high-quality public preschool?
What aspects of Chapter 124 present challenges for implementing and/or achieving high-quality public preschool programming?
As the Maine DOE continues to support the expansion of public preschool opportunities to reach universal capacity, including partnerships with Head Start and private childcare/preschool programs, does Chapter 124 adequately support achievement of this goal?

2. Taking into consideration the insights gained from the discussion on July 14, the Department will propose updates to Chapter 124 and begin the Maine Administrative Procedures Act (A.P.A.) routine technical rule process pursuant to 5 MRS §8052 (public notice of filing, public hearing, open public comment period).

3. Once the proposed rule has been filed, the public will be notified of the scheduled public hearing and comment period. This will be an opportunity to provide written and oral comments regarding the proposed rule.

4. The Department will review all comments and respond accordingly. Updates to the rule will then be filed for legal review before final adoption.

For more information about the conceptual conversations for Chapter 124, contact Lee Anne Larsen at leeann.larsen@maine.gov.

MEDIA RELEASE: Report Released on Maine’s State and Local Initiatives to Improve Outcomes for Children

On June 24, New America released a report describing efforts to expand and improve early education in Maine: Building Systems in Tandem – Maine’s State and Local Initiatives to Improve Outcomes for Children by David Jacobson. Find the report here.

The report describes the efforts of 13 Maine schools who, in collaboration with partners within their communities, have crafted and begun to implement First 10 plans designed to better support children and their families from birth through the first 10 years of children’s lives by attending to all domains of development, wrap around supports, parenting skills, and transitions across early learning experiences.

Maine DOE sought the help of the report author, David Jacobson, through a Preschool Expansion Grant obtained in 2014. Jacobson leads the First 10 initiative at Education Development Center. A list of the 13 Maine school communities and a summary of the project can be found here.

Simultaneously, while the 13 communities were developing their plans, a team composed of specialists from Maine DOE, Maine DHHS, and CDS formed to learn more about First 10 Schools and Communities, other national models, and strategies in which state level administration can engage to support this work at the local level. Findings from Maine’s work in this area are included in this report along with next steps.

The State Team members from Maine DOE, Maine DHHS, and CDS continue to meet to explore how to expand on this work. Questions may be directed to Lee Anne Larsen, Maine DOE Early Learning Team Coordinator, at leeann.larsen@maine.gov.

Pre-K for ME Curriculum Training

The Early Learning Team at the Maine Department of Education is pleased to host this free training for public Pre-K teachers, ed techs and administrators. Together with four Pre-K teachers from RSU 57, we’ll provide a two-day training for those interested in implementing the newly developed, whole-child, comprehensive curriculum, Pre-K for ME. Access to curriculum units is free and available now on our website at: https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/earlychildhood/PreK4ME

This two-day training will be held in-person at the Massabesic Training Center in Waterboro, Maine on August 3^rd and 4^th. All necessary precautions will take place regarding the health and well-being of our participants. We will also offer remote attendance through a Zoom conference link, provided after registration. Please note that the in-person setting may change pending guidance from the CDC, Governor Mills and registration results.

Attendance by school administrators is highly encouraged in order to support the ongoing needs of your teachers, as well as to gain a better understanding of the science behind the curriculum, best practices in a Pre-K setting, and the six comprehensive units of study that the curriculum offers.

Registration is available now through the end of July at: http://events.egov.com/eventreg/ME/event.htm?name=prekformecurriculumtraining

Any questions should be directed to Nicole Madore, Early Childhood Specialist nicole.madore@maine.gov

Get to Know the DOE Team: Meet Margaret Harvey

Maine DOE team member Margaret (Meg) Harvey is being highlighted this week as part of the Get to Know the DOE Team Campaign. Learn a little more about Meg in the brief question and answer below.

What are your roles with DOE?

I serve as the Maine Middle School Career and Technical Education (MS-CTE) consultant for the Maine Department of Education. I have been an advocate for Career and Technical Education for the last 30 years, as a grant administrator, State Director of Maine CTE and in my current role. I have been facilitating the new MS-CTE legislation and administering the pilot projects being run throughout the state. I direct state MS-CTE grant funds; work in the field as a consultant to staff and administrators; work on national boards to develop MS-CTE protocols and standards and visit schools to provide technical assistance.

What do you like best about your job?

I really like working in the field with the students and CTE staff. I am new to middle school brain and find it very similar to a middle aged brain! We are easily distracted, we are not sure what we want to be when we grow up, and we love to hang out with our friends!

How or why did you decide on this career?

I have always learned best in a three dimensional way, by hands on instruction. When I first discovered CTE (a looonnng time ago…) I was so jazzed to find an educational avenue that fit my learning style.