Transitions Ahead?
School News: Schoology worries, re consolidation, and an early release day change
BAR HARBOR—Sometimes being an AOS Board member involves a little perk.
At the board’s meeting Monday night in the MDI High School library, Superintendent Mike Zboray, began by handing out season passes to high school sports games.
He followed that with an update. There are currently 476 students at the high school, 124 tuition students, and 923 students in pre-k through 8 schools in the entire system. Some of those pre-k numbers are still increasing. One school in the district still doesn’t have pre-k classes. That school is Bar Harbor.
The districtwide summer school held at Trenton Elementary hosted 120 students. The need for educational technicians (ed techs) is always there, he said, adding that the position is especially good for people looking for employment in the winter season.
The system hired 70 new staff or staff in new positions in the district. That number includes 28 people who had never been part of the district; 13 who have worked here before and came back; 29 staff moved between schools in the system.
Districtwide, they need about 10 more ed techs. Tremont having the most need for the position, Zboray said. When it comes to substitute teachers, they earn between $125 and $145 per day depending on their qualifications and schooling. Having a teaching certificate means greater daily pay.
“We pay really well for our substitute teachers,” Zboray said.
General needs in the district runs the gamut, he said.
REORGANIZATION
The restructuring of AOS 91 would have to eventually be approved by voters of each town that is impacted. It also means that if approved there would be just one budget for the schools and just one school board for the system rather than Bar Harbor having its own board and Trenton having another. That board would be elected by the voters of the towns involved (Bar Harbor, Cranberry Isles, Frenchboro, Mount Desert, Southwest Harbor, Tremont, Trenton, and Swan’s Island). Similarly, teachers and staff would not be employed by each school but by the district.
The reorganization committee must have members that represent each school, the towns, and the public.
Zboray said they are scheduled to meet about this through December.
“I have already met with Renee, who is the president of the MDIEA,” to talk about teacher representation, he said, and he has also reached out to the chairs of municipal boards, He expects the reorganization committee to not be more than 20 people.
There are multiple possible configurations for the reorganization of the schools. Some are below.
According to the high school’s Chalk Talk:
“Mount Desert Island Regional School System – AOS #91 has 11 individual school committees and boards. Each elementary school department has its own school committee or board of directors.
“The Mount Desert Island High School Board is made up of the four Mount Desert Island elementary school committees (Bar Harbor, Mt. Desert, Southwest Harbor, Tremont).
20 members total but only 10 members may vote (3 Bar Harbor, 3 Mt. Desert, 2 Southwest Harbor, 2 Tremont).
“The Mount Desert Island Regional School System – AOS #91 Board is composed of 36 members from all nine individual school committees/boards within the district. All members are encouraged to attend but only 19 members may vote (4 Bar Harbor, 3 Mt. Desert, 3 Southwest Harbor, 3 Tremont, 3 Trenton, 1 Cranberry Isles, 1 Frenchboro, 1 Swan’s Island).” Meeting schedules and information on board policies, along with board members is available on the district site. www.mdirss.net”
CAMERAS ON BUSSES
There has been an uptick in cars passing busses illegally, Zboray said, stressing that the bus drivers need to focus on driving, not on passenger behavior. Cameras are on the busses now that will automatically take photos of the cars illegally passing.
SCHOOLOGY
Director of Learning Julie Keblinsky said it was year three of the system’s Schoology integration. In March there was a district-wide training.
In her August note, she wrote, “Schoology Integration: In our continuous effort to enhance remote and blended learning experiences, we are focusing on the seamless integration and utilization of Schoology, our learning management system. This platform will provide a centralized hub for students, parents, and teachers to access resources, assignments, and communicate effectively.”
Schoology is a learning management system with over 20 million users around the globe. She said it is a bit of a ripping off the Band-Aid moment for the program, which can be uncomfortable for those learning the system.
Board member Susan Allen asked about the Schoology implementation in the high school. Keblinksy said that the high school teachers have had a lot of choice about instruction and their need. Jill Cohen said the high school is offering a micro credential.
Schoology was also spoken about by Principal Matt Haney (MDI HS) during the MDI High School Board meeting, also held in the high school’s library on Monday. Haney said that the program is definitely a learning curve for everyone involved: teachers, students, and parents. However, Haney feels that it is far better than the previous system because it is an all-encompassing system where they are able to have grades, assignments, and communication together in one place. This information is accessible by staff, students, and parents.
During his discussion regarding Schoology, Haney asked if any of the three student representatives that were present at the meeting had any comments about it.
One student said that having used the previous system, Google Classroom, since fifth grade, it is taking some time to transition and get used to the many new features of Schoology. He also said that it is sometimes hard to navigate and figure out where everything is, but he is confident that with time and experience it will be okay,
Another student said that there are multiple ways to turn assignments in, and she has been late with a couple of assignments this year already because she turned them in the wrong way. However, she said that the teachers have been very understanding as they all learn the system.
The first student then continued and said that the font can be very small and sometimes features such as embedded links are not highlighted and are not readily visible.
During the AOS meeting, board member Keri Hayes (Tremont) suggested that the school make some learning resources available to help students navigate the system when they are at home and doing things like turning in papers. She said even something as simple as a document listing YouTube Schoology tutorials would be helpful.
NATIONAL LITERACY CRISIS
According to Keblinsky, they will likely report their reading program agenda at the AOS’ October meeting. Keblinky said that the crisis is national and the system is not immune.
According to a NYT article by Dana Goldstein,
“The literacy crisis did not start with the pandemic. In 2019, results on national and international exams showed stagnant or declining American performance in reading, and widening gaps between high and low performers. The causes are multifaceted, but many experts point to a shortage of educators trained in phonics and phonemic awareness — the foundational skills of linking the sounds of spoken English to the letters that appear on the page.
“The pandemic has compounded those issues.”
POLICIES
The policy was quickly reviewed and came up because of the nurses’ worries and because of an uptick of allergies in schools. The board also approved changes to the Public’s Right to Know/Freedom of Access and Child Abuse Reporting, Prevention and Education policies.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Jessica Stewart, Brian Henkle, Aaron Brown were elected as chair, vice chair, and secretary. There was no discussion or other nominees. It was unanimous.
ONE EARLY RELEASE DAY CHANGE
The island-wide reading event for seventh graders, organized by Island Readers and Writers, was scheduled for October 20. This is an early release day, but it is no longer. The new early release day is October 6. October 20 is now a full day.
MDI HIGH SCHOOL REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD
Prior to the AOS Board meeting, there was an MDI High School regular school board meeting in the high school’s library. With no public comment, the meeting began with the High School Principal Matt Haney’s report.
Haney reported that there are slightly fewer students enrolled this year than in past years, with 476 students. The breakdown of students by grade is: 116 freshmen, 123 sophomores, 118 juniors, and 119 seniors.
Haney also said that they have hired three additional staff: Geoff Wood as a math teacher; Flannery Dillon who will be working in the learning center; and Jim Willis as a permanent substitute. Later in the meeting, Mike Zboray nominated Wood for the math position. A motion was made in favor of that nomination, seconded, and the vote was unanimous to hire Willis.
NEASC
This year will be the first visit from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), which is an accreditation organization for New England, in twelve years. Haney said that normally it is a 10-year cycle but due to some restructuring by NEASC and the COVID pandemic, they are running a little behind.
Haney said that this year’s visit will be a post-restructuring visit and will only be 4-5 people visiting the school to review the school’s self-report, and to speak with teachers, students, and parents. Haney said that a dedicated team of 8-10 staff were able to prepare for this year’s visit due to the restructuring.
In years past, when NEASC visited you every 10 years, it took two years to prepare, produced reams of paperwork, put all teacher’s professional growth and development on hold for those two years and was very costly. According to Haney, approximately 40 Boston-area schools got fed up with the process and told NEASC that they would no longer participate and forced the changes.
OTHER BUSINESS
Athletic Director Bunky Dow gave an update on fall sports, saying that overall athlete numbers were down a little bit but they really just reflect the lower enrollment numbers.
Zboray gave a building project update and said that because of the PFAS issue at the school the building project had been sidelined for about a year but was now back. Zboray said that there should be an update at a future meeting from the school’s attorney regarding next steps for the building project.
The PFAS issue is still ongoing and the wastewater system has not been repaired or upgraded yet, but Zboray said that at the next trustees’ meeting on September 25, Haley Ward, the school’s consultants should be presenting their final report along with three possible solutions to the wastewater issue.
Zboray also thanked Jane Disney of the MDI Biological Laboratory for her work at the high school and her work and dedication to the entire island community on the issue of PFAS contamination.
The final item of business prior to an adjournment at 6:00 p.m., was the nomination and election of a new truant officer. Now retired Police Chief Jim Willis had been the truant officer but a new one needed to be appointed due to his retirement. Zboray nominated acting Police Chief David Kerns for the position. A motion was made to accept this nomination and seconded and the vote was unanimous.
TIGER TALK FROM CONNERS EMERSON
Upcoming events:
Friday, September 15 is an Early Release Day. Buses will be dismissed at 12:25. Walkers and pick-ups dismissed at 12:30. Please do not come before 12:25 to pick-up your child or our parking lot will be at a standstill!
Friday, September 15 is International Dot Day. We encourage students to bust out their polka dots for this fun day.
Thursday, September 21 is School Picture Day. Forms will be going home soon so that you can pre-order and prepare.
Thursday, September 21 is CES Open House from 4:30-5:30 (hot dogs and bake sale fundraiser) followed by an 8th grade parent meeting at 5:30 in the cafeteria.
Friday, September 29 is an Early Release Day.
MDI High School Chalk Talk Updates
Upcoming Events
Sept 12:
Incoming Freshman Night, 6pm, Library
Music Open House, 7pm Music Room
Sept 18: Restorative Board Family Communication, 6pm, Library
Sept 23: Waste Collections Day, 8am
Sept 26-28: NEASC Collaborative Conference
Sept 29 Picture Day
Oct 2-6: Homecoming Week
Oct 3-5: Parent/Teacher Conferences
Oct 7: Homecoming Dance
LINKS TO LEARN MORE
KDB - Public’s Right to Know/Freedom of Access
JLF - Child Abuse Reporting, Prevention and Education
CORRECTION: We originally misspelled Brian Henkle’s last name. We apologize! And we’ve fixed it.