PARIS — The Oxford Hills School District board of directors rejected a request by students Tuesday that would have allowed hats to be worn in most classrooms.
In an 11-4 vote, with one member abstaining, the board agreed with the majority of the Personnel Committee members not to adopt the proposed revisions to the policy that bans hats in the classroom.
In August, a group of Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School students went before the directors to try to convince them that hats belong in the classroom with the classroom teacher’s approval. The Personnel Committee, which voted 3-2 not to recommend the plan, agreed to bring it before the directors after they heard the students’ presentation in July.
The high school’s dress code forbids hats, hoods, bandanas and other types of head coverings in school during the day unless previously approved by the principal for religious reasons, special events or activities. Hats may be required in certain technical school programs while working with or around machines, and in certain extracurricular or other activities where they are deemed necessary.
School administrators and directors said the students received a good lesson in public policy by allowing them to argue their case and see the board’s voting process through.
In other action, the board voted to take $25,000 from the district’s Contingency Fund to create an Ed Tech I position at the Agnes Gray School in West Paris for a kindergarten class. State statute allows one teacher for up to 18 students at that grade level, but the kindergarten class now 22 enrolled. The majority of the Personnel and Finance Committee agreed with the request.
District principals and the director of the Adult Education program gave their annual back-to-school reports to the board of directors, informing board members about first-day activities.
“This has been the best opening for freshmen,” Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School Principal Ted Moccia said. He spoke about a new mentoring program that links 48 to 50 junior and senior students with incoming freshmen to guide them through their first days. The school has also implemented a support system for new teachers.
At Oxford Hills Middle School, Principal Troy Eastman said the staff has adopted a “say yes” attitude.
“It seems to have really made a difference,” Eastman said of saying yes instead of “yes, but.” For example, a student can be offered a wider allotment of courses that may be difficult to schedule but by saying yes instead of “yes, but,” everyone wins.
At the elementary schools, Principals Dan Hart, Tiffany Karnes, Mary Lou Peterson and Beth Clarke reported on new staff, including 15 new teachers at Paris Elementary School and 11 at the Oxford Elementary School. They also reported the return of a literacy coach at the Hebron Elementary School and a new secretary at the Otisfield Community School to replace longtime secretary Maureen Adams, who retired after more than 30 years at her post. A new system for children arriving at the Guy E. Rowe Elementary School in Norway was also discussed.
Clyde Clark reported on the adult education program, saying there is a need for more teaching hours to address the growing number of students involved in English as a Second Language program.
At the Hebron Elementary School, Clarke reported she almost learned how to quack like a duck from a kindergarten student on the first day.
When she failed to make the appropriate sound after being coached by the student, Clarke said she asked him what she had done wrong.
“You forgot to spit in your hand first,” he responded.
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