SAD 17 is off to a 'fantastic start'

OXFORD HILLS — School administrators reported at the SAD 17 board meeting Tuesday night that the 2012-2013 school year is off to a good start, despite a number of changes. 

Superintendent Rick Colpitts said the opening of the school year was "one of the smoother openings we [SAD 17] have seen in at least two or three years."

"From my perspective, given many of the changes occuring in the district, I think opening day was fantastic," he said.

Ted Moccia, OHCHS principal, said he was impressed with opening day, noting work that was done by the Class of 1987 to improve school grounds as a service project before celebrating its 25th reunion. 

"The building looks great," said Moccia. "I was pleased with the amount of work that was accomplished over the summer."

A couple of new things are happening in Oxford Hills this year, said Moccia, including what's called "restorative justice," introduced by Oxford Spanish teacher David Knightly.

"We started the year off doing some work with understanding discipline ... how we can help kids understand when they've made a mistake," said Moccia.

In addition, Moccia said staff at OHCHS are "looking at [argumentative] writing across the curriculum."

According to Moccia, teachers in science, English and social studies will all use the same rubric "to really look at student writing and try to get to a deeper understanding of, whether they are meeting what we are asking," he said.

Another tool in transforming the class, said Moccia, is that all teachers at OHCHS have an iPad this year, which seems to engage the students.

Moccia said he was impressed that some 125 parents attended opening day. "For a work day, I felt that was a good number," he said.

Administrators from Norway, Oxford, Paris, Harrison and Waterford spoke of challenges, such as overcrowded classrooms, understaffing (in some cases) and working with new staff, as well as changes in curriculum, technology and transportation. 

Nevertheless, all agreed that the school year started off well.

"It's been a fantastic start ... I couldn't be happier," said Rowe Principal George Sincerbeaux.

According to Sincerbeaux, in the last two years, 18 people have been hired at Rowe, including a new assistant principal, 11 teachers, a new nurse and three ed tech IIIs.

In other news, the board:

• Presented the annual Mary Lou Burns Educational Service Award to Bev Yates, who's worked for Oxford Hills since 1967. She worked at the Oxford Hills Junior High School which later became Oxford Hills Middle School for 44 years. She retired in June 2011, but continues to volunteer at the school on a regular basis.

• Appointed Jillian Kimball as OHCHS athletic trainer and Hayly Ross Holman as OHMS assistant field hockey coach; and Ron Kugel to the annual Maine School Boards Association Delegate Assembly as a delegate.

• Approved Hayly Ross Holman as OHMS Spanish teacher; Heather O' Leary as pre-K ed tech II at Guy E. Rowe Elementary School; and Audra Carter as special eucation ed tech III at Oxford Elementary School.