Vassalboro school board hears update on staff, finances & repairs

Vassalboro Community School (contributed photo)

by Mary Grow

Vassalboro School Board members heard and discussed updates on staff, finances, repairs and other topics at their Sept. 9 meeting, the first since the new school year started.

One of the new staff members, seventh- and eighth-grade math and social studies teacher Christina Lougee, zoomed in at the beginning of the meeting, enthusiastic about teaching at Vassalboro Community School. Two others, unavailable Sept. 9, are likely to introduce themselves at a future meeting. Principal Ira Michaud praised all three as “wonderful additions to our school community.”

Finance Director Paula Pooler reported that the school budget and the separate food service budget both ended the previous fiscal year with small surpluses. She thanked school administrators for ensuring that all but a few families submitted the economic status forms that the state department of education requires to allocate school subsidy money.

Superintendent Alan Pfeiffer reported, with photographic illustrations, that G & E Roofing, of Augusta, replaced about half of the roof on the 33-year-old VCS building. The work included removing the gravel ballast that covered the original roof – “obsolete technology,” Pfeiffer observed – and adding “crickets” to divert rainwater from places where it might collect and damage the roof.

Some of the building upgrades planned last spring with Energy Management Consultants are started, Pfeiffer said. He expects to invite company president Thomas Seekins to the October school board meeting.

Pfeiffer said efforts to create cooperative arrangements between VCS staff and students and local businesses are under way, with preliminary discussions with people at Natanis Golf Course and Duratherm Window.

Michaud added that Lougee and fellow eighth-grade teacher Christina Smith are planning a field trip for their students to the Vassalboro Historical Society’s museum, perhaps the first of several if the school and the society develop an ongoing relationship.

At their next meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, board members expect their agenda to include a discussion of the first sections of the school’s strategic plan.