SAD 4 officials developing strategic plan

GUILFORD — A 2019-24 strategic plan draft for SAD 4 has been written, the document includes vision, mission and rational statements and four goals — achievement, social/emotional wellness, facilities and family and community engagement.

During a Sept. 10 school board meeting in the Piscataquis Community High School library, Superintendent Kelly MacFadyen said a strategic planning information night is set for 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 23 in the PCHS library (more information is available at www.sad4.org). SAD 4 is forming a task force to develop action steps for the strategic plan and students, parents, staff, school board members and community members are all invited to the meeting.

In his report, PCHS Principal John Keane said the school leadership team is working on its own 5-year strategic plan “that will guide us with school improvement initiatives. It is still in draft form for the purpose of making sure it aligns with the district’s strategic plan, which is in the process of being developed. Once the district’s plan is complete we will review ours, make any changes and then distribute publicly.”

Keane reported on several other items to the school board.

“We are partnering with Monson Arts, doing a program for accelerated arts students and accelerated writing students,” he said. Keane said from October to May these pupils — there are four presently — will head up Route 15 to work with artists on projects beyond what they may have been doing in their regular classes.

“We had a little bit of a float controversy,” Keane said, with the Homecoming parade set for 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20 with a community pep rally and bonfire to follow. He said the plan was to have each sports team design a float, but some students who do not participate in athletics said they wanted to take part.

“A bunch of students voiced their opinions through the student council,” the principal said. He said after some good discussion a decision was made to also have a float for each class in the Homecoming procession so everyone has an opportunity.

Keane said PCHS math teacher Lisa Martell is offering a personal finance course for seniors this year.

“We look at taxes, we look at budgeting, we look at careers,” Martell said. She the class utilizes resources from Next Gen Personal Finance (www.ngpf.org).

Board chair Niki Fortier began the meeting by welcoming the new student council representative to the board of directors, senior Nick Flint.