BELFAST — At its July 8 school board meeting, Regional School Unit 71 approved amending the district’s Director of Curriculum position to include the responsibilities and job title of assistant superintendent. 

Though the position is new for the Belfast-area school district, this is generally the norm for most schools in the state. 

“The Director of Curriculum is usually the de facto Assistant Superintendent in public schools districts in Maine, although the role is sometimes called by different names, such as the ‘Director for School Improvement,’” said Superintendent Mary Alice McLean. 

The district’s Director of Curriculum, a position currently held by Laura Miller, has served as a note taker for administrative meetings and committees, in addition to being an affirmative action officer, supervising the extended learning program, completing several handbooks and being a liaison for several programs and committees. 

Responsibilities have also included compiling and producing data for various uses such as for Elementary and Secondary Education Act and Every Student Succeeds Act, student enrollment, student homelessness and Comprehensive Needs Plan. 

With the newly created joint position, the position’s goals will be: 

1. To assist the Superintendent in the task of providing leadership in developing, achieving, and maintaining the best possible educational programs and services.

2. To provide leadership in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the District's K-12 curriculum and instructional program.

3. To provide leadership in the development, implementation and evaluation in the District's K-12 assessment plan.

4. To plan, coordinate, and supervise the professional development program to enhance the professional growth of the staff.

5. To plan, evaluate, and supervise the emergency preparations for the Region.

The responsibilities of the now joint position will include: 

1. Provides staff leadership to ensure understanding of and promote the educational objectives of the Region.

2. Assists the Administrative Team as they plan and administer programs of professional development for instructional personnel.

3. Coordinates all formal efforts of the professional staff in projects of curriculum improvement.

4. Provides for the development and implementation of region-wide assessment of student skills and progress. Works with the Administrative Team in reviewing and evaluating the results of Region-wide testing programs and other evaluative measures used by the schools to ensure that the region operates research-based, data-driven programs.

5. Directs creation of and edits for publication all curriculum guides and materials prepared by and to be distributed among instructional staff.

6. In support of building principals, studies, evaluates,. and as appropriate, recommends adoption of new instructional programs, materials, and methods.

7. Assists in budget preparation for instructional programs.

8. Maintains a current curriculum manual (on-line).

9. Works with the Policy Committee and principals to establish graduation requirements, approved courses, credit allowed, and any other pertinent information useful to students, parents, and staff.

10. Observes teachers in their classrooms and offers insights for the enhancement of the teaching-learning situation and educational programming to assure continuity and quality. 

11. Assumes a leadership role in developing curriculum for any content area or course newly mandated by the legislature of the Board of Directors.

12. Interprets the present curriculum and proposed curriculum changes to the Board of Directors, the administrator, the staff, and the general public.

13. Completes Comprehensive Needs Assessment and Plan, facilitating the Comprehensive Needs Assessment Planning Committee.

14. Provides leadership for the development and implementation of grants available to the Region and monitors the progress of such grants.

15. Coordinates K-5 itinerant teachers.

16. Attends Board meetings and prepares such reports for the Board as the Superintendent may request.

17. Serves as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) coordinator and Title I coordinator for RSU #71 and oversees the Title grants.

18. Assumes a leadership role in the formation and maintenance of school based as well as region wide emergency plans.

19. Counsels with administrators, teachers, students, and parents relative to education, suspensions, expulsions, and student discipline.

20. Maintains liaison with social, professional, civic, volunteer, and other community agencies and groups having an interest in the school.

21 . Assumes the leadership role for the RSU in the absence of the Superintendent of Schools.

22. Performs such other tasks and assumes such other responsibilities as may, from time to time, be assigned by the Superintendent. (i.e. Homeless/Foster Care Liaison, Civil Rights Data, Affirmative Action, Wellness Committee)

Reach George Harvey at: sports@penbaypilot.com.