SALEM TOWNSHIP – RSU 58 staff, directors and administrators have received a long-awaited school grade correction from the state.

In May, Maine’s third-year high school students took assessment tests, and the data was crunched by the College Board and provided to the Maine Department of Education.

Gov. Paul LePage had directed state Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen to publish the results publicly as letter grades for each school in the state. Schools with less than 95 percent participation in the testing process were penalized a letter grade.

Superintendent Brenda Stevens said the Strong and Phillips elementary schools received an A. Kingfield Elementary School received a C, and Mt. Abram High School received a D. Principal Marco Aliberti said MDOE’s data calculations were incorrect.

“We had three more students than they showed, so we actually had 98 percent of our students who took the test,” he said after the meeting. “There were three kids lost in the shuffle between the DOE and College Boards.”

He and Stevens challenged Bowen’s data, and although they received unofficial confirmation that the MDOE agreed with the error, the data was not changed publicly. Board members learned Thursday night that the D grade was changed to a C on public records in mid-July.

“I don’t think there is anything wrong with people knowing how their schools are doing,” Aliberti said. “I’m just questioning how that data is gathered.”

He protested the negative publicity the poor grade reflected on the high school staff and students.

“We’re a school that has worked very hard to accomplish a lot, so frankly, this was kind of a bummer,” Aliberti said.

He learned of the grade correction from Stevens but has not received acknowledgment of the error from Commissioner Bowen.

In other news, Aliberti reviewed the high school’s Mountain Time program, which uses daily 25-minute periods to provide focused work with students. Aliberti explained he meets with four lead advisers and with other teachers to set student goals. Freshmen may need more study skills, while seniors are planning for life after graduation. Uniform goals include decision-making and goal-setting.

“Students learn more about independent living as responsible individuals,” teacher Tina Brackley said.

Students are expected to work on projects that are related to improved academic performance. They also are required to complete 40 hours of community service to graduate from Mt. Abram High School.Teachers Jennifer Baker, Danielle London, Tom McLaughlin and Tina Brackley explained their roles

Students learn more about pacing themselves and setting deadlines. For example, freshmen are encouraged not to wait until their senior year to start their community service. The Mountain Time period incorporates graduation requirements, rather than being a separate requirement, Aliberti explained.

“It’s giving the kids more support and making the experience more uniform,” Strong board member Ann Schwink noted.

The Mountain Time schedule has been observed for the past 13 years, according to Superintendent Brenda Stevens. The board voted to allow students one-quarter credit per year. Students do not have to complete Mountain Time as a graduation requirement.