CAMDEN — The SAD 28 school board for Camden and Rockport schools will hold its next meeting this week, Jan. 19, with the agenda highlighted by a notable item on the future of the district’s transportation services. 

“Last spring, we discussed the possibility of needing to contract out our transportation services at some point either this year or next, due to staffing shortages,”  SAD 28 superintendent Maria Libby wrote in her report to the board.

“In talking to the four companies operating in Maine this fall when I was trying to get a route covered, I learned that many of them are in the same situation, and they were doubtful they had the capacity to add another district.”

Three drivers for the district have retired, according to Libby, and the district’s spare drivers are each now driving regular runs to help. Though two custodians have pitched in to drive routes, those custodians are taking time out of their custodial shifts. 

“The fact is, however, that we are very short-staffed, and it has been difficult to attract and hire drivers,” Libby wrote. “I believe the situation is going to continue to pose significant (and potentially insurmountable) challenges. Therefore, we felt it was prudent to determine whether we have any options to consider by submitting bid packages to the transportation contractors who work in Maine.”

After alerting the association president, the central office sent out bid packages January 12 for SAD 28 transportation for the upcoming school year so that the district can budget accordingly for transportation services. 

“We will pull together a committee comprised of administrators, a board member, and an association member to make a recommendation to the full board in February or March,” wrote Libby. 

Below is the full agenda for the Wednesday meeting, and attached is the full agenda packet distributed to board members. The meeting will be held at the middle school’s Bisbee Theater at 7 p.m. with livestreaming available at fivetowns.net/live.

AGENDA

1. Call to Order

2. Adjustments to the Agenda

3. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda

4. Minutes
a. Approval of the December 15 Regular Board Meeting Minutes

5. Nominations (Note: Executive Sessions Possible for Nominations)

a. Stipend Nominations
Position Nominee Points Bonus Amount
CRMS Softball Coach Ben Laukka 26 0% $2,060.24

6. CRMS Integrated Music Presentation – Alyssa Anderson

7. Possibility of Contracting Out Transportation For School Year 2022-23 – Maria Libby

8. Board Chair’s Report – Patrick McCafferty
a. CRMS Open House December 27
b. Change of CRS Finance Committee Chair

9. Superintendent’s Report – Maria Libby

10. Administrative Reports
a. Deb McIntyre, Assistant Superintendent
b. Jaime Stone, CRMS Principal
c. Chris Walker-Spencer, CRES Principal
d. Valerie Mattes, Director of Student Special Services

11. Standing Committee Reports

a. Finance – Met December 15. Meets prior to School Board Meeting on January 19.
i. Finance Update – Finance Committee Chair

b. Joint Policy – Met December 13. Next meeting March 14

First Reads
BHC – Board Relationships and Communications with Staff
GCEA – Recruitment, Selection, and Employment of Teaching Personnel
GCF-R – Recruitment, Selection, and Employment of Administrative Staff Procedure
IJJ – Instructional and Library Materials Selection
IJJ-E – Citizen’s Challenge of Educational Media Form
IMB – Learning About Controversial Issues
IMBB – Exemption from Required Instruction
JICB – Care of School Property by Students
JL – Student Wellness
JL-R – Student Wellness Guidelines
KEB – Complaints about School Personnel

Review with No or Minor Revisions
EEA – Transporting Students
GCF – Recruiting and Hiring of Administrative Staff
GCOC – Evaluation of Administrative Staff
GDF – Recruitment, Selection, and Employment of Support Staff
JJA-P – Participation Guidelines for Student Activities
JJA-R – Procedure to Discontinue a Sport or Student Activity
JJIB – Sponsorship and Evaluation of Athletic Programs

c. Joint Personnel – Has not met.

d. Joint Curriculum – Met January 10

12. Ad Hoc Committee Reports
a. Joint Communications – Met December 21. Next Meeting January 18.

13. School Advisory Committee Reports
a. DEI Task Force – Next Meeting January 31

14. Future Agenda Items

15. Adjourn