LEWISTON — The local School Committee is scheduled to vote Monday on a proposal to create an online high school. Superintendent Bill Webster said he had reservations about lessons being offered exclusively online, but he’d rather a student attend a Lewiston virtual school than the district pay thousands of dollars to a charter school. Webster […]
Webster
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston School Committee OKs new redistricting panel
LEWISTON — The School Department will begin assembling a new 22-member redistricting committee in anticipation of a new, larger school to replace Martel Elementary, the School Committee decided Monday night. The state has told Superintendent Bill Webster that the city is in the 2017 funding cycle to replace the 1925 school building on Lisbon Street. […]
advertisement
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston again tackling redistricting students
LEWISTON — The topic of redistricting students, which was controversial in 2012 and 2013, is back. Superintendent Bill Webster will present the School Committee on Monday night with plans to hire an architect to build a school and establish a new redistricting committee. Redistricting is resurfacing because Lewiston has been approved for state construction money […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston’s new autism classes opening this fall
LEWISTON — This fall, Lewiston’s expanded autism program will begin teaching 17 students who would have been in a more expensive, private program, Lewiston’s Special Ed Director Jill Hastings told the Lewiston School Committee Monday night. The new program will teach 20 students, Hastings said. There will be three new small classes, often with a […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Pickup smashes into tree in Lewiston
LEWISTON — Damp streets and quick cornering proved a bit much for an Auburn man who escaped serious injury when he lost control of his truck Monday night. According to the 20-year-old driver Alex Burton, “I came around that corner too quick,” prior to the incident that happened around 8:30 p.m. Burton said he was […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, The Franklin Journal
Reporters notebook: Fond farewell to Duplissis
LEWISTON — The resignation of Diane Duplissis was accepted May 12 by the Lewiston School Committee — albeit reluctantly. Duplissis is the executive assistant to Superintendent Bill Webster, serving on the front line, compiling reports and handling calls and queries from parents, officials and reporters. She was lauded by School Committee Chairman Jim Handy for everything […]
Posted inAdvertiser Democrat, Oxford Hills, River Valley
SAD 44 board adopts $10.56 million proposed budget
BETHEL — The SAD 44 board unanimously approved a proposed budget of $10,564,225 Monday night. They also approved an Adult and Community Education proposed budget of $158,073. The district budget for 2014-15 is about 1.87 percent, or nearly $193,000, more than the current figure, and the adult education budget is about 4 percent above the […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Special ed spending key part of Lewiston School’s budget
LEWISTON — A $296,000 budget increase in special education spending may not pay off for city schools immediately, but it will save money in the long run. Lewiston Superintendent Bill Webster told City Councilors that the school department does not have the programming or the space to take care of every special education student the […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston school budget revised: Fewer cuts, lower tax hike
LEWISTON — There would still be cuts in student programs and teaching positions, and property taxes would go up, but not by as much under a revised school budget from Superintendent Bill Webster. However, Webster warned Thursday, the proposed spending plan still doesn’t meet the needs of students and it isn’t affordable. The $60.76 million […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston superintendent: Tough budget ahead
LEWISTON — School Superintendent Bill Webster told Lewiston School Committee members to brace themselves for difficult budget decisions when he released the proposed 2014-15 budget next week. Reasons for possible cuts in positions, programs and/or higher property taxes include expected flat funding in education dollars from the state, higher MaineCare costs and no leftover cash […]