Teachers of all grades: Looking for an exciting and informative summer opportunity related to agriculture? Consider the upcoming July 29 – August 2, 2019 “Agriculture for ME on Land and Sea” Summer Teachers’ Institute. Located at the University of New England, on their beautiful coastal Biddeford Campus, and offered by Maine Agriculture in the Classroom! With stimulating local trips, talks featuring hands-on activities, and high quality lesson plans to take home with you, this event promises to be a great success. The cost of the 5-day training (registering through July 1st) is just $200, including lodging, travel and meals, with scholarships available. Participants will receive 36 contact hours, or 3.6 CEUs, from the University of Maine for re-certification credit, as well as many valuable materials. For further information, and to register, please go to https://www.agclassroom.org/me/programs/summer_inst.htm For any additional questions, please contact Maine Agriculture in the Classroom at maitc@mainel.gov or (207)287-5522.
Category: News & Views
Administrative Letter: Clarification Concerning Local School Bus Purchase and Bid
Administrative Letter: #24
Policy Code: EEAEB
To: Public School Administrators, Business Managers, Transportation Directors, and School Bus Vendors
Date: 26 March 2019
Subject: Clarification Concerning Local and State School Bus Bid and Purchase
To assist and support school districts in their diligent work to purchase school buses, the Maine Department of Education is providing clarification concerning the process for districts to bid and purchase school buses.
The information in this letter has been reviewed and confirmed by our legal team in the Office of the Attorney General.
For a school bus purchase to be eligible for State subsidy, per 20-A M.R.S. § 5401(15) and § 5402, 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.
For school buses purchased by a SAU when the SAU is not seeking subsidy, the SAU must still engage in competitive bidding, as outlined above.
Vendors are welcome to register with, and submit school bus bids through, the Maine Division of Procurement’s Request for Quotations (RFQ). During an open bid, vendors may not contact the Maine Department of Education. Questions that vendors receive about Maine Department of Education transportation programs, policies, and procedures from SAUs or citizens are to be redirected to the state agency with subject authority, e.g., Maine Division of Procurement or Maine Department of Education.
SAU use of the Maine Department of Education’s School Bus Bid and Purchase System (SBBPS) is voluntary. SAUs are encouraged to contact Pat Hinckley at 207-624-6886 or pat.hinckley@maine.gov with any questions about the SBBPS, transportation programs, or policy questions.
1400+ Educators Convene for Regional PD “Rendezvous” Provided by Western Maine Education Collaborative (WMEC)
Educators from 13 districts throughout the western Maine region gathered at the University of Maine at Farmington last week to attend a series of professional development opportunities designed specifically for them. This is the second year that the Western Maine Education Collaborative (WMEC) has planned a remarkably successful Rendezvous for teachers in the region, this year doubling the number of attendees over last year’s event.
The focus was on sharing the successes and solutions of delivering high quality instruction, assessment, and curriculum to a broad spectrum of students. More than 40 sessions were offered throughout the day on everything from 3D printing, to Google forms and other tools for the classroom, as well as curriculum and assessment sessions on project based learning, NWEA math, & SAT prep, and strategies to improve vocabulary instruction, to name a few. Educators were also offered sessions on the dangers of vaping, adverse childhood experiences, mandatory reporting, and suicide prevention, in addition to sessions about self-care, evidenced based classroom management practices, and sessions where they could work on specific projects.
The Rendezvous was planned and hosted by WMEC, a long-time partnership of districts in the western Maine region. The collaborative is led by President, and RSU 4 Superintendent, Andy Carlton and WMEC Executive Director, Kristie Littlefield. By using feedback and ideas generated from last year’s event, the two designed an event that was meaningful and responsive to the interests and needs of the participants.
Educators in attendance came from the following districts: Fayette School Department, Lisbon School Department, MSAD 59, Mt. Blue Regional School District/RSU 9, RSU 4, RSU 56, RSU 58, RSU 74, RSU 78, Spruce Mountain School District/RSU 73, Western Foothills Regional School Unit No. 10.
WMEC President Andy Carlton hopes this collaboration continues to offer quality professional development opportunities across the region, with events like this for years to come. He notes that a collaborative like WMEC is not always about sharing resources to save money, it’s about working together to pool resources so that improved programs and services can be provided to the students in the region.
For more information about WMEC visit their website.
Below are more pictures from the event.
Science in Full Bloom in 5th Grade Classroom at Harrison Lyseth Elementary School
Submitted by Cindy Nilsen, Math Instructional Coach at Harrison Lyseth Elementary School in Portland Public Schools.
An exciting project has been launched in Margaret Reimann’s 5th grade classroom at Harrison Lyseth Elementary School, in Portland Public Schools. It was featured in the current issue of Maine Audubon’s Habitat Magazine.
Science Is in Full Bloom! “American Spring LIVE” & Maine Audubon
by Jeremy Cluchey, Maine Audubon
March, 2019
Employee of the Week: Michael Ashmore
Michael Ashmore, Program Development & Training Officer for the Maine Commission for Community Service is the Maine Department of Education’s Employee of the Week this week. Get to know a little more about Michael through this brief question and answer:
What is your role with the State of Maine?
I work for the Maine Commission for Community Service, a partner agency of the Maine DOE. My role with the Commission is as the Program Development & Training Officer. In this role I provide outreach to community agencies regarding the opportunities the Commission provides (grants, National Service support, training) and I am the trainer and technical assistance provider for Service Enterprise and for our grantees, among other things.
What do you like best about your job?
I love helping community agencies build their capacity to engage and utilize the skills of volunteers and to help them develop more volunteer opportunities here in the state.
How or why did you decide on this career?
I was a public educator for 2 decades and then moved into nonprofit management. I became connected to the work of the Commission as a grant recipient and then moved to the Commission as grants Officer ten years ago. I appreciate the value of service and the importance of volunteerism in keeping communities healthy, vibrant and resilient so it is rewarding work.
What do you like to do outside of work for fun?
I love to hike and to read, to spend time with my three children; and cooking is a passion of mine.
PRESS RELEASE: Commissioner Makin Selects Kelli Deveaux as Department of Education Communications Director
Augusta, MAINE – Maine Department of Education Commissioner Pender Makin announced today that she has selected former Westbrook High Principal Kelli Deveaux to serve as the Department’s next Communications Director.
“Ensuring Maine parents, students, school officials and communities have accurate and clear information about education statewide is a core responsibility of the Department of Education. I am delighted to welcome Kelli’s expertise and decades of experience in Maine schools to this important role,” said Commissioner Makin. “Kelli’s passion for education and communication skills will serve the people of Maine well and I look forward to working with her in the years ahead.”
“I am honored to join the Department of Education and grateful to Commissioner Makin for the opportunity to continue working to support Maine teachers and students,” said Kelli Deveaux. “As a former principal and teacher I know firsthand how important the Department of Education’s ability to communicate effectively truly is, and I look forward to undertaking this critical work and supporting education professionals and students statewide.”
Prior to joining the Department of Education, Kelli Deveaux most recently served as Principal of Westbrook High School, a position she held since 2016. Deveaux also served as an Assistant Principal at Windham High School, and began her more than two-decades long career in education as an English teacher in South Portland. Deveaux lives in Gorham with her husband and their three children.
Contact: Kelli Deveaux (Kelli.Deveaux@Maine.Gov | 624-6747)
WinterKids gives $20,000 to Carrabassett Valley Elementary Schools
Submitted by Johanna Prince, Kingfield Elementary Principal.
Skiers and snowboarders raised $370,000 at the Downhill 24 for the Maine nonprofit that helps kids to get outside and active more often in the winter. The 7th annual event marked the largest revenue in the event’s history. The organization chose to support local education by giving the four elementary schools in Carrabassett Valley $20,000 of this year’s event proceeds – $5,000 each to Kingfield Elementary School, Phillips Elementary School, Strong Elementary School, and Stratton School.
“We are so appreciative of WinterKids’ efforts to support local education,” said Kingfield Elementary Principal, Johanna Prince. Added Kingfield teacher and longtime WinterKids champion, Selina Warren, “WinterKids has a direct impact on the number of minutes kids move during the school day. With their Guide to Outdoor Active Learning, I have been able to get my kids moving while learning, as the curriculum aligns to Maine and national learning standards. This is a win-win for teachers and students!”
The Downhill 24, presented by Darling’s Auto Group and Kittery Trading Post, is a team ski and snowboard challenge and fundraiser to benefit WinterKids. It is the only annual event that brings night skiing to Sugarloaf. WinterKids sets up lights along the course for a fun-filled, round-the-clock, family friendly event. Participants raise money to support WinterKids to help children develop healthy lifelong habits through education and fun, outdoor winter activity. This year’s event raised a record $370,000 from 2,897 donors, 49 teams and 409 participants! Participants of the WinterKids Downhill 24 get their own unique fundraising web page, and prizes are awarded for those who raise the most money for WinterKids.
“We are thrilled that the success of this event allows us to directly impact kids and families in Sugarloaf’s surrounding communities, ” said Julie Mulkern, Executive Director. “In addition to these funds, we distribute over $25,000 in cash and prizes to our participating Winter Games schools in all 16 counties statewide,” added Mulkern. “It is heartwarming and validating to visit schools and see firsthand the positive impact our organization is having on kids and their health.”
Updated Language Use Survey Now Available
Through the concerted efforts and dedication of our English Learner Advisory Council, and with feedback from our colleagues in the field, the Department of Education has refined our statewide Language Use Survey. We believe these minor changes have created a more quality document that will aid in ensuring valid identification.
As part of our consistent, statewide process for identifying English learners, as is required by ESSA, all Maine districts are asked to administer this new and improved Maine DOE Language Use Survey to the parents/guardians of students enrolling in the district for the first time.
For convenience and cost-savings, the updated Language Use Survey is available on the Maine DOE website in English, and 25 other languages. We have also created a short video to assist those who are administering the Language Use Survey and encourage others, such as building administrators and classroom teachers, to familiarize themselves with the survey and how students are classified as English learners.
For guidance on English learner identification, please refer to the resource and policy guide, Serving Maine’s English Learners, or if you have any questions, please contact:
April Perkins
Director of ESOL/Bilingual Programs & Title III
Office: (207)624-6627
Cell: (207)441-9043
april.perkins@maine.gov
Wells Junior High School Actors Take Action Against Hunger
Submitted by Josie Perkins, Director of Theatre Arts Education at Wells Junior High School.
Students from Wells Junior High School were highlighted recently for their efforts to take action against hunger in their community.
“We give back through our arts. We affect people’s lives by doing arts and entertainment and taking them out of their daily lives. But what else can we do as global citizens to give back to our community?” says play Director Josie Perkins.
See the full news story here.
Learning in the Great Outdoors at Meroby RSU #10
Submitted by Kim Fuller, Principal of Meroby Elementary in RSU 10.
For the past three years, Meroby’s kindergarten students have been involved in an outdoor education program that promotes academic learning, social skills, problem solving skills and independence. The teachers; Maggie Corlett, Kristen Giberson, Heidi Ferguson and Jessica McMichael have done research, taken courses, and developed a curriculum to support our students. Each Wednesday, the students go into the woods to participate in a host of learning activities from searching for animal tracks, working on math skills using natural materials to working with their friends to build a shelter. Our guidance counselor joins the group for lessons on friendship, emotions and how to work together. These are just a few examples of the rich learning experiences our kindergarteners have each Wednesday.
The community has supported our program in a variety of ways; students from Region 9 worked to clear trails and make outdoor classrooms, the snowmobile club maintains trails to make access easier for our students, community members have donated warm clothing and boots, Sunday River Adaptive Ski Program has donated a sled so all students can participate in our program.
This year, not only kindergarteners are using the outdoor classrooms. First and second graders are going into the woods once a week to participate in science lessons based on the Common Core Standards. This opportunity for real hands on experiences with the curriculum is making learning fun and meaningful. We are proud of this program and will only add more rich learning experiences for our students in the future.
Maine DOE Newsroom 