Top school officials in Lewiston and Auburn say they oppose a proposed law that would allow firearms on school property in Maine. A bill to permit unloaded and locked guns on school grounds is before the Legislature’s education committee. Superintendents Bill Webster of Lewiston and Katherine Grondin of Auburn spoke against the bill at a […]
Bill Webster
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston school board hears report on learning initiative
LEWISTON — The School Committee met Monday night at the Dingley Center to discuss proficiency-based learning. Assistant Superintendent Shawn Chabot and the rest of the proficiency-based learning implementation committee gave an update on how implementation is working out across the 13 grades within the school system. “We know we didn’t have it all right last […]
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Pediatrician: Less cell phone time, more happiness
Lewiston Middle School’s ban on students using cellphones at school has the stamp of approval from the vice president of the Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The ban “is a great idea,” Dr. Deb Hagler, a Brunswick pediatrician, said Tuesday. Students don’t need more distractions during the day and Lewiston Middle School […]
Posted inOur View, sj-web
How could firm commitment vanish so fast?
Two days after Lewiston middle-schooler Anie Graham took her life, hundreds packed the Green Ladle at Lewiston High School calling for community members to stand together to battle bullies and guard against suicide. It was an emotional event, and commitments were made around the room for people to work together. There were calls for regular […]
Posted inLetters, sj-web
Too many assessment tests
This is a response to Bill Webster’s guest column about the MEA tests (June 18). I find his change in opinion on that test very interesting. As a parent, I have spent the past five years advocating that school leaders take a hard look at the over-testing of students. Much of what Webster discussed in […]
Posted inOp-Eds
The Maine Educational Assessment is broken
In 2015, I was a strong supporter of the new Maine Educational Assessment (MEA) assessment, reasoning that it was closely aligned with what should be taught in the classroom and would help guide instruction. Results were to be timely and available to schools soon after administration. State officials further predicted that the MEA would ultimately […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston superintendent speaks out on recent student suicide
LEWISTON — School Superintendent Bill Webster expressed to the School Committee on Monday his sadness for the recent death of a middle school student. “As has been reported, Anie (Graham) left the school with her parents, identified at risk. They went to her medical provider, then after that went to the hospital, and with that […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Bill Webster denies adults were made aware of bullying at Lewiston Middle School
LEWISTON — School Superintendent Bill Webster released a statement at noon Thursday saying he was not aware of any adult, inside or outside the school, who was made aware that the Lewiston Middle School student who died Tuesday was bullied. According to Webster’s statement, two of her classmates approached him directly “to say that she […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Postcard sender ID’d as Lewiston adult ed teacher
LEWISTON — A woman who sent the mayor a postcard expressing concerns over immigrant deportations is a part-time Lewiston Adult Education teacher, according to a school official. School Superintendent Bill Webster on Wednesday identified the teacher who had written her return address on the postcard as Lewiston Adult Ed, 145 Birch St., after signing her […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston school, city budgets move ahead
LEWISTON — The school department’s fiscal 2017-18 budget is moving along despite a number of question marks. During City Council budget discussions Tuesday, councilors received an official look at the proposed $73.6 million school budget. In his presentation, Superintendent of Schools Bill Webster reminded officials of the difficulty in crafting this year’s budget because of […]