Board OKs gifted and talented post

HOULTON – With little discussion during its hour-long meeting Monday evening, the SAD 29 board of directors voted unanimously to approve hiring a full-time teacher to serve gifted and talented students in the district.

The vote came one month after the board tabled a decision on the matter at its meeting in March, after deciding that the directors needed more time to consider teaching options for the program. The group originally was asked to hire a part-time teacher for the program, which provides services to academically gifted students.

One full-time teacher now works with the students, but Southside School Principal Jerry Kiesman told panelists last month that an additional teacher was needed because of changes in state law. The state now mandates that students in each grade be screened, identified, and have access to gifted and talented programs during the next school year. At this point, only kindergarten through sixth-grade pupils in SAD 29 are identified for the program.

When Kiesman said last month that an estimated 53 students in the district could be targeted for the program, the board decided to consider hiring a full-time teacher. There are 20 students in the program right now.

Panelists also recommended that the additional teacher have a strong math and science background. The group felt that the current program was not offering enough services to pupils who were interested in math, science and social studies.

The majority of pupils in Houlton’s gifted and talented program now receive instruction mainly in English, language arts and visual arts.

On Monday evening, Superintendent Steve Fitzpatrick urged the directors to hire the extra full-time teacher.

“Hiring a full-time gifted and talented teacher puts SAD 29 in the most advantageous position to meet the students’ needs,” he said.

The superintendent said that he would pass on to the hiring committee the board’s recommendation about the solid math and science background.

In other action Monday evening, directors elected Brian McGuire as the new chairman. McGuire will take over for Chairman Kerry Golding. Diane Hines was re-elected as vice chairman of the board of directors.