RANGELEY — Members of the School Committee who attended the Maine School Management Association’s fall conference last month shared news and ideas with the committee at its meeting Tuesday.

Chairwoman Pam Ellis reported on an inspiring speaker, who said that boards and teachers have to stand up for what they’re doing in their schools. She also went to a program on student feedback that is handled so as not to be a popularity contest.

Steve Dudley said the feedback forms avoided a fill-in-the-blank format so as not to invite capricious criticism.

Jennifer Farmer spoke of a bridge-year program that awards college credits in high school, and a presentation on negotiating health care. Other presentations at the Oct. 25-26 conference in Augusta covered iPad use in grades K-1 in Auburn, how to learn from programs that are exceptional and navigating a locally-funded construction project.

Superintendent Brian Foster explained how the state has changed the way it calculates funding of local school budgets, supplying 45 percent, plus 4 percent for teachers’ retirement.

Principal Sherry Connally said that principals in Western Maine are looking at teacher evaluations in light of a new law that requires multiple measures, including student feedback and parent surveys. She reported that high-school test scores from this fall are at the state average, with low scores in writing. She said students who have been keyboarding through their time in school are not used to writing by hand, and that the school has implemented new writing enrichment programs for grades kindergarten through five.

Connally added that there is little room in the Common Core Curriculum for creative writing, and that reading is mostly informational rather than literary. The committee discussed possible action for improvement.

When Connally mentioned that basketball practice begins next week, the committee realized it had not been presented with the list of winter sports coaches for approval. Athletic Director Tom Philbrick was called in and quickly arrived to answer questions.

Philbrick said he had submitted the list of coaches with stipends to the office, and that perhaps a miscommunication had kept it off the committee’s agenda. Since fifth- and sixth-grade intermurals have been canceled, he recommended shifting that stipend to the middle school cheerleading instructor, which the board adopted.

The committee voted to approve the list of coaches, with one nay vote from a member who expressed dissatisfaction in a coach’s behavior with the players, which he said did not follow the coaches’ handbook and discouraged players from signing up for other activities.

Philbrick elaborated on the complex problems of scheduling activities, and assured the board that accommodations between the disciplines were continually being sought.

Dudley reported that the Finance Committee had met with auditor Ron Smith, who had positive comments about the school’s fiscal situation.

The Facilities Committee provided a list of seven proposals for changes needed, and it asked the committee to review the list for discussion at the next meeting.

The school deed has been redrafted to include lot 11, which was incorporated into the school property. The deed now goes to the town attorney and then to the selectmen. Foster said the school still caries liability insurance.

The committee approved an overnight field trip for students to attend the New England Music Solo and Ensemble festival at White River Junction, Vt., on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.

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