2007 Report 02-20-2008 - Town of Scarborough

July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2007
Report from the
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
To the Town Manager, Town Council, and
Citizens of Scarborough:
As Scarborough has grown since we celebrated our 300 th
anniversary some 50 years ago, school enrollments reflect
this dramatic change. The 2006-2007 school years started
with 251 Kindergarteners entering Scarborough schools.
This is the largest entering class in our history. The
September 1956 enrollment in what was then called Junior
Primary was 120 students. At the other end of the spectrum,
the graduating class this past June was 221 students,
compared with the 53 students in June of 1957. This begs
the question, if Scarborough has changed and grown this
much in the last 50 years, what will we look like 50 years
forward in 2056 How will school then be compared to
what we have accomplished this past year
During the early part of the 2007 school year, the School
Board met to discuss and adopt a number of long-term goals
to be the focus of our work. In broad terms, the goals were:
1. To ensure the highest quality education for all
students so they may meet or exceed standards.
2. To provide leadership and management for the
highest quality instruction for all students.
and obsolescence still exist in
the system, so these issues
remain an area that the School
Board will need to revisit in
the future.
The school year saw many
accomplishments. Here is a
sample. A new Wellness
policy was approved that
focused on student and staff
health through exercise and
healthier food choices. A
Wellness committee was
established composed of
David Doyle
community members, staff,
Superintendent
and Board members to monitor
the success of the program. A “Sports Done Right”
committee was also established to institutionalize many of
the practices that are already in place in Scarborough. A
series of policies were also put in place to deal with Student
Activities.
The all day Kindergarten program, in its second year, was
roundly applauded as a success by staff.
Over 200 students from the Middle School participated in
the 20 th Annual Bike/Walk-Anthon for AIDS. This project
3. To provide appropriate facilities for all educational
programming
4. To provide a healthy school environment for all
students and staff.
5. To increase opportunities for appropriate
volunteerism.
Within each of these goals a series of objectives were
identified, data sources cited, and evidence of progress
toward achieving these objectives established. Specific
benchmarks for improved student achievement on
standardized test were set by the Board in twelve different
areas based on scores on the Maine Educational Assessment
for grades 3 through 8. These benchmarks were achieved in
eight of the areas. Three others showed improvement, but
not quite to the benchmark, and the remaining area was flat.
High school scores on the SAT, required of all eleventh
grade students, continued to improve, despite a statewide
slump.
One area that proved to be a disappointment for the school
department was the failure of the two referendum questions
dealing with the Scarborough Middle School and the
Wentworth Intermediate School. These two questions – for
the expansion of the middle school and replacement of the
intermediate school went to the voters at the November
elections, each was rejected by the voters. Overcrowding
Girls Softball Team Celebrates at State Championship Game
has raised nearly $200,000 over that time.
A “Dollars for Scholars” chapter was established at the high
school to help support students going on to post secondary
education.
The High School Chorus was invited to sing at the National
Cathedral in Washington D.C.
State Championships were won by the following teams -
Boys Cross Country; Girls Indoor Track; Girls Outdoor
Track; Girls Softball; Academic Decathlon (which went on
to place 14 th nationally); Debate – Student Congress.
Individual State Championships were also earned by Erica
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