SALEM – MSAD 58 directors unanimously voted to give credit to high school students for attending a 25-minute meeting with their advisor each day. However, the pass/fail credit will not be a requirement for graduation.
From the very first day of school beginning at the end of this month and on through the year, Mt. Abram’s students meet each day with their advisors during a session called Mountain Time after lunch.
Principal Marco Aliberti told the board that Mountain Time, held for the past 13 years, provides an academic focus and, among the discussions advisors have is making sure each student has the materials they need to succeed academically. An outlined schedule appropriate to each grade level keeps the Mountain Time in somewhat of an across-the-board structure for all students.
English teacher Jennifer Baker said the freshmen year focus in Mountain Time includes a discussion on the importance of community service and what type the students might be interested in performing. The school requires 40 hours of community service to be completed for graduation. Mountain Time can also be set aside for doing community service hours, Baker added.
Director Jason Plog of Avon, said he wasn’t necessarily behind the notion of requiring community service in order to graduate.
“I don’t like compulsory community service. I didn’t have in school; it should be an elective,” he said.
Director Kim Jordan of Kingfield noted the students choose what they want to do and often work in groups to complete it.
“They enjoy doing it,” she said of community service.
“It’s a good lesson when they move on they can choose to do it in life,” said Director Ann Schwink of Strong.
Director Dan Wocester of Phillips said when he asked students about it, “half loved it and half hated it.”
While the Mountain Time emphasis for sophomore students is the beginning of career exploration, said Teacher Danielle London, junior students will be focused on SAT preparation and a continued discussion of post secondary plans, explained teacher Tom McLaughlin.
“Will they need to get ready for a college experience, or the military, or need to find a job after graduation? We’ll also be looking at what scholarship money is available,” McLaughlin said.
The board approved giving a quarter credit hour to students attending each year for a four-year, 1 credit total possible. Directors added that the credit is not a graduation requirement.
In other matters, directors, 5-1, voted to approve extending a bus route in Strong to pick up four elementary school children who live on Burbank Road.
Jason Hill said his family moved to a home on Burbank Hill a few years ago and while his daughter was picked up by a school bus when she was in kindergarten last year as is required, they found out this year the bus won’t be coming up to his residence, .6 of a mile past the Montford Drive intersection. He noted the school bus used to stop at his house five or six years ago for all the students, but no longer does. As he and his wife both need to get to work very early, it’s a hardship for them to walk their children down to the nearest bus stop. He added two more children in the neighborhood have to do the same thing.
“All I’m asking is to reinstate the one (stop) that’s always been there,” Hill said. “I’m only asking for a half mile.” The road is paved and kept plowed by town crews. When his daughter was picked up, the bus used his driveway to turn around.
Director Diana Thomas of Phillips, said she had the same experience with her child and has been walking to the bus stop since the bus stopped coming to her house.
It’s a slippery slope,” she said if they were to allow an exception for the Hill family, other families will want the bus to come to their homes too.
Director Marc Edwards said he was in favor of extending the bus route, noting it’s to pick up four children.
“If there’s four kids up there, let’s go get them,” Worcester said. Directors, 5-1, with Thomas opposed, approved the stop and decided to help save on some fuel costs by having the bus turn around in Hill’s driveway and use the plowed turnaround a half mile further in winter.
i have been in that school at Mt Time and it is a lot more like recess.
My opinion:: My daughters Algebra Teacher was her advisor and she barely passed. Last year Marco was my son’s advisor and he failed Algebra for a half year. I called and requested for my son to be seen or kept after class . Just to do something but nothing was done. I guess my son and advisors used mountain time as a recess.
Could someone with some insight explain to these first two commenters.
Insight on what Norm ?