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Orleans Central Supervisory Union explores “sister school” model

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JoAnn Martin, interim principal at Glover Elementary School, presents data to the LRUEMS board of directors on January 13th, showing the benefits of switching to a sister school model reconfiguration.

BARTON –– The Lake Region Elementary and Middle School board of directors held their regularly scheduled meeting, which included a presentation of a proposal from school administrators that could solve staffing shortages and save taxpayers money.

Facing a potential budget increase of 10 percent or more, the board asked the six elementary/middle school principals to create a plan that addresses staffing gaps and would reduce the budget. The administrators responded with a proposal to restructure the six schools into K-4 and 5-8 “sister schools.”

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The current school system is severely understaffed and has twenty-two classrooms that are at or below the state’s minimum of ten students each. Two of the six middle schools have been understaffed all year, and one school has not had a middle school program for three years.

“Keeping the system the same is an option, but it comes with a drawback,” said Irasburg principal April Brown. “It would only take one resignation or health crisis, and it would be detrimental to our system.”

The district has open positions in all schools that are difficult to fill. It is easier to find teachers for kindergarten through sixth grade than for middle school specialty content areas.

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Three years ago, other middle schools took in Irasburg students when the school faced a staffing crisis. However, this solution is not feasible now due to already increased middle-school class sizes. Combining classes into multi-grade classrooms is also problematic, as over half of the students would be in multi-level classrooms, and not every teacher is prepared to teach multiple grades.

The proposed “sister school” model would pair schools in close proximity to each other: Albany/Irasburg, Brownington/Orleans, and Barton/Glover.

Irasburg would become a K-4 school, and Albany would be a 5-8 school. Orleans would become a K-4 school, and Brownington would have grades 5-8. Barton would move to a K-4 school, and Glover would become the 5-8 school for that pair. This reconfiguration would balance class sizes and reduce the number of needed teachers. A few teachers within each school would rotate through various classes depending on school needs. The sister-school model would result in three schools with middle school endorsements instead of the current five.

All classes would remain straight grade levels with the sister school model, making it easier for both students and teachers. Students would have more peers and there would be age-appropriate culture in each school. The transition would become smoother for Irasburg students who currently do not have seventh and eighth-grade classes in their building, and it would create consistent systems throughout the district.

Teachers would also benefit from this model, potentially leading to greater staff retention. They would have in-building support for similar grade-level content areas. The sister-school model would create stronger middle schools that better prepare students for high school.

The proposal would reduce staff by three teachers, but there would be no need for layoffs. Open positions, interim teachers, and teachers who do not renew their licenses would facilitate the proposed model.

Next steps, if the LRUEMS board of directors accepts the sister school model, include meeting with the special education office to determine student needs and ensure buildings meet those needs as students transition. The administration will collaborate with faculty and staff to determine placement. Transportation will need to be finalized, and resources and staff will need to be relocated.

Students from Westmore who attend any of these schools will be factored into the transportation piece of the proposed sister-school model.

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