AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Education today announced family size and income guidelines for free and reduced-price meals and milk in Maine schools for the 2011-12 school year.
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Training available for reporting abuse, neglect
Teachers, guidance counselors, administrators, bus drivers and others responsible for student welfare in school are required by Maine law to report to their supervisors or to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services whenever they have reasonable cause to suspect child abuse or neglect has occurred.
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Commissioner asks schools to help with bath salts danger
AUGUSTA – Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen is asking school administrators and nurses to educate themselves and other school staff on the dangers and warning signs of bath salts use by students.
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Commissioner’s Update – Aug. 18, 2011
More and more, bath salts — a designer drug — are widely available to our students. As educators, we need to know about this drug, its dangers, and the signs of its use and abuse.
That’s why I’m asking you this week to learn all that you can about bath salts. To help you do that, we’re bringing you information about the drug in a Health Alert and on a special web page.
Hopefully, knowledge about the drug will offer you the tools you need to intervene when there’s cause to suspect the drug is endangering the students and adults in our schools.
Schools sought for pest management pilot
The Maine Departments of Education and Agriculture are inviting schools this fall to participate in a pilot project that will allow them to review pest management practices with a specialist and receive tips for improving the quality and safety of their athletic fields, lawns and playgrounds.
HEALTH ALERT: Educators asked to learn about bath salts
NOTE, Aug. 24, 2011: The Department of Education’s Bath Salts web page was updated to include two additional resources. Visit the “Resources for accurate information” section of the web page: http://www.maine.gov/education/sh/bathsalts.html.
TO: All Maine School Personnel
FROM: Commissioner Stephen L. Bowen, Maine Department of Education
Bath salts, though illegal in Maine, are becoming increasingly available in our towns and cities. They present a high risk of harm to anyone using this synthetic substitute for cocaine and methamphetamines.
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MEDMS gets upgrades; staff data collection reopens
The Maine Education Data Management System’s staff edition has received a number of upgrades and is open for staff data collection for the 2011-12 school year.
Staff data are due in MEDMS Staff by Sept. 30.
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Schools can apply for construction, renovation funds
The Maine Department of Education will accept applications from schools seeking to secure financing under the federal Qualified School Construction Bond (QSCB) and Qualified Zone Academy Bond (QZAB) programs through Oct. 14, 2011.
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Schools focus on formative assessment
Formative assessment was the focus for nearly 200 teachers and administrators from schools across Maine earlier this month who attended a three-day training institute at Sunday River in Bethel.
Statement on the passing of James Carignan
James Carignan, long-time member and one-time chair of the State Board of Education, died Sunday, Aug. 14, in Brunswick.
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