RSU 9 board hears principal’s report on BAR rollout, recognizes staff, and approves student field trip

The RSU 9 School Board spent a portion of its meeting on operational updates: Principal Black highlighted instructional and extracurricular developments, the district’s BAR program expansion, building progress and staffing recognitions, and a fully funded outdoor-leadership field trip.

Principal Black told the board the district hosted over 35 student recognitions this quarter and highlighted staff initiatives such as a new yearbook program and a school news broadcast. He said the BAR (Building Assets Reducing Risks) program is being extended to 7th and 8th grades next year and is being implemented alongside the district’s longstanding PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) plan. On early results, Principal Black said anecdotal indicators are positive but that the district will pull and analyze data at the end of the year to determine whether office referrals and peer relations are improving: "We’ll pull some data here in the next couple weeks and really dig down to see where we’re at," he said.

Facilities updates included a report that the Buren Centre is about 94–95% complete and that a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be scheduled. The superintendent and several board members also praised food-service worker Amanda Berry and math interventionist Bethany Cody for their contributions.

The board approved a field trip for the outdoor leadership program after Travis Tierney described a three-day raft-industry training offered by the Maine Tourism Association — fully funded for students, with travel costs reimbursed. Tierney said seven students were confirmed to attend. The motion to approve the trip was seconded and the board voted unanimously in favor.

Other operational notes: two staff members from each school will attend the BAR conference using ESSER funds to align with social-emotional learning and MTSS goals; the board indicated it will invite returning staff to present their conference findings. The superintendent also noted the Commissioner of Education (Pendermaican) will visit the district next Tuesday to meet adult-education staff.

The board’s public comment period had no registered speakers at this meeting.

Provenance: Principal’s operational and programmatic updates appear beginning at SEG 540 through SEG 774; the field trip discussion and approval appear at SEG 919–981.