VASSALBORO: Board members discuss plans for summer work

Vassalboro Community School (contributed photo)

by Mary Grow

Vassalboro Community School (VCS) Principal Megan Allen told school board members at their June 15 meeting that holding the eighth-grade promotion celebration outdoors at the school felt right.

Officials at the China Baptist Church Conference Center, graduation site for more than a dozen years, have been welcoming and helpful, she said, “but it’s not home.”

This year, due to Covid, the ceremony was on the school grounds, livestreamed because in-person attendance was limited. School Board Chairman Kevin Levasseur said the eight-graders’ promotion was in the VCS gymnasium in 2000; others estimated the move to the Conference Center was around 2015.

After that look backward, board members mostly looked to the future, discussing plans for summer renovation work inside the building and on the grounds. A summer school will run the first two weeks in August.

Board members scheduled an open meeting to discuss spending anticipated extra state and federal money and a strategic plan for education in Vassalboro for 5:45 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 11, at the school. They plan to invite the selectboard and budget committee and make sure interested residents are informed and can participate, virtually as well as in person.

Finance Director Paula Pooler predicted the school’s finances will be “in good shape” at the end of the fiscal year, though with two weeks’ bills still to come she could not give a specific figure.

Board members approved one appointment, Carol Kiesman as Curriculum Coordinator. They accepted three resignations: Donna Bolduc, Title 1 Educational Technician for many years; Victor Esposito, Jobs for Maine Graduates Teacher; and Sarah Page, displaced from kindergarten by covid-induced changes and moving to a kindergarten position elsewhere.

Referring to Esposito as “the legend of JMG for 20 years,” Superintendent Alan Pfeiffer said he “will still be around,” and the program will continue under new leadership.

The post-local-elections meeting began with re-elections of Levasseur as board chairman and Jolene Clark-Gamage as vice-chairman. Board members formally adopted the $8,313,609.72 2021-22 school budget approved at town meeting.

Committee members plan, as usual, not to hold a regular meeting in July. They scheduled their next meeting for Tuesday evening, Aug. 17, and authorized Pfeiffer to issue contracts in the interim, so they will not miss a good employee.