SAD 46 community comes together through technology

DEXTER — With students learning remotely through at least the end of the month, SAD 46 staff are working hard to serve the pupils during the coronavirus pandemic. SAD 46 school board members learned more during an April 1 meeting conducted via Zoom, a web-based video conferencing system.

Government entities are permitted to use this method for remote meetings per Gov. Janet Mills’ emergency declaration, and the directors began the session with a formal motion to use Zoom to conduct business.

“First of all I would like to thank all of the staff,” Superintendent Kevin Jordan said in his report. “This crisis was thrust upon all of us not only on our daily lives but our education lives.” He said having students learn remotely at home has not been perfect but Jordan feels everyone is doing the best they can having never had instruction carried out in this manner before.

“All school staff are deemed essential staff,” Jordan said about the order from Mills closing nonessential businesses in the state. “We will certainly take that duty on.”

With schools across the state shuttered through at least May 1 Jordan said, “We are going to continue as we are and see at the end of April.”

He said SAD 46 district employees are all still working but the need to be in the buildings is being kept to a minimum.

The superintendent said he has been asked about prom, graduation, spring sports and other events set for the coming months. “Our intention at this point is yes, somehow, someway we want to do all of that,” Jordan said, but how and when is all to be determined.

Jordan said resident Melvin Wyman led an effort to collect board and card games so families could have something fun to play together while at home. “He came up with $1,600 in donations in just a few days,” the superintendent said. “We are working on a process to get those to families.”

“A huge thank you to our food service, our bus drivers and our ed techs who are riding the bus,” Jordan said, with the district dropping off daily breakfast and lunch. “As of today we have delivered just over 8,000 meals to students in just two and a half weeks.”

He concluded his report by saying SAD 46 is working to help provide Wi-Fi access for students with a hotspot set up at the Ridge View Community School to allow for Internet use in the parking lot. Another hotspot is planned for Dexter Regional High School “to provide as much access as we can for students.”

Dexter Regional High School Principal Steve Bell said secondary school staff are doing a great job instructing online, such as sharing videos and using Zoom.

Bell said he was curious to see how band lessons would work under the current circumstances but music teacher Ted Nokes has received clips of students playing their instruments and then he has been able to email feedback. 

“The students seem to be handling it well,” Bell said about the school closure. “I tell them to stay positive.”

He said during the March school board meeting the move of the Tiger football team from 11- to 8-player football was discussed, with the directors OKing school officials to pursue this option.

Bell reported that 26 programs across Maine are planning to make the switch, including many of Dexter’s fellow Little Ten Conference programs whereas just six that played in Class D in 2019 are going to remain with  the 11-player game. “So I think probably the right decision for us is that 8-man class,” he said.

Dexter would likely have a more regional schedule in the fall at 8-man football, compared to a statewide 11-player Class D division. More information will be determined prior to the season kicking off.

Special Education Director Denise Hamlin said students have been learning through Zoom. She said staff “have been making some wonderful parent connections that they never would have before.”

Ridge View Principal Gerald Kiesman said he has gone on various bus routes for meal and educational drop-offs. “One of the legitimate things for me is the gratitude we have received,” he said, with parents/guardians very thankful for the food.

Tri-County Technical Center (TCTC) Director Dr. Patrick O’Neill said drivers have been delivering materials to students across the extended region served by the center, traveling as far away from the Dexter campus as Brownville Junction and Rockwood. 

During the budget committee report, Jordan said the budget committee met back on March 11 to review capital outlay, TCTC and debt service finances. The group has not held a session since then but “we will try to meet again next Wednesday, it looks like Zoom has worked out well for us tonight,” he said.

At the end of the meeting the superintendent said, “I think it’s incredible to have nearly 50 people here tonight.” In addition to the school board and administrators, staff and members of the public joined the meeting held via Zoom.

Board Chair Andrea Rollins said regular school board meetings usually feature only a few members of the public in attendance.