BETHEL — Elementary schools in School Administrative District 44 participated in Grandparents and Special Friends Day, a tradition since 1990. In Kirsten Meader’s first grade classroom at Crescent Park Elementary School, students were overjoyed to show their grandparents and special friends what they do every day at school. “I was most excited about showing (my […]
SAD 44
Posted inBethel, Lewiston-Auburn, Oxford Hills
Did selectmen jump the gun on school tax shift vote?
BETHEL — School Administrative District 44 directors have set a districtwide vote for Nov. 7 on changing the cost-sharing formula, which would shift some of Newry’s school tax burden to the other three towns. They also set a public hearing for 6:30 p.m. Oct. 16. Last week, Bethel selectmen talked strategy on how to promote […]
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Posted inBethel, Oxford Hills
Newry could pick up a SAD 44 director
NEWRY — If a draft plan proposed last week by School Administrative District 44’s Reapportionment Committee gets ultimate approval, Newry could go from two directors on the school board to three, while the other towns remain the same. “This increases Newry’s voting power by a factor of three,” said Reapportionment Committee Chairman Norm Clanton of […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, River Valley
Woodstock principal ends 38-year career
WOODSTOCK — Jolene Littlehale, an educator for 38 years and most recently principal of Woodstock Elementary School, retired from School Administrative District 44 at the end of this school year. Her passion for teaching started at age 5, she said. “My elementary teachers used to have me help other students in my class who were […]
Posted inRiver Valley
SAD 44 budget passes by 22 votes
BETHEL — Voters on Tuesday passed the School Administrative District 44 budget of $10.98 million, which is a 3.73 percent increase over last year’s budget. The budget passed by 22 votes. Student support and special education budgets received the largest increase, and teachers will receive a salary bump of 1.5 percent. Superintendent David Murphy’s salary will […]
Posted inRiver Valley
Newry to continue withdrawal process
NEWRY — The town of Newry voted on Tuesday to continue the withdrawal process from School Administrative District 44. The vote was originally prompted by a petition circulated by Newry resident Steve Wight, who said he believes there is no value in withdrawing, fearing it would lead to a “decreased school system” due to the […]
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Bomb threat at Bethel school one of many nationwide
BETHEL — A bomb threat sent electronically to a computer printer at Crescent Park Elementary School on Memorial Day has been termed a hoax, according to the Maine Information and Analysis Center. In an email to the school on Tuesday, the center said that in the past past 48 hours several entities nationwide have received […]
Posted inRiver Valley
Bethel school principal retiring next month
BETHEL — Levi Brown, gym teacher and teaching principal of Crescent Park Elementary in Bethel, will retire from School Administrative District 44 next month. Brown received his teaching degree at Plymouth University in New Hampshire. He said playing games for a living sounded great to him, so he became a physical education teacher. In 2003, […]
Posted inRiver Valley
SAD 44 music teacher retiring
BETHEL — Linda Stowell, music teacher of over 28 years, will retire from School Administrative District 44 next month. Stowell received her teaching degree at the University of Portland-Gorham, now the University of Southern Maine. Raised in a musical household complete with a family band, Stowell said she knew she wanted a career in music, […]
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Pre-K, Head Start programs announced for Bethel
BETHEL — School Administrative District 44 directors on Monday evening were given details about the prekindergarten and Head Start programs to be housed at Crescent Park Elementary School in Bethel in the fall. The district has partnered with Community Concepts to help with the start-up of programs designed for 3- and 4-year-olds. Kim Bessette of […]