Portland Public School Department News

The New England League of Middle Schools has renamed King Middle School in Portland as one of 26 “Spotlight Schools” throughout New England for its use of best practices in teaching middle school students. King first earned the recognition in 2002. A team from the New England League of Middle Schools revisited King earlier this month.

“The school was selected because of its continued record of powerful learning for young adolescents, its observance of effective middle level research and practice and its implementation of young adolescent best learning practices,” said Dr. Robert C. Spear, the League’s executive director. The League, based in Topsfield, Massachusetts, also has honored four other schools in Maine as “Spotlight Schools.”

The process used to select King Middle School included a review of curriculum, instruction, teaming practices, democratic governance, appropriate school environment and the level of involvement of parents and community.

The League cited improved student attendance, reduction in violence, suspensions, and detentions, improved state test scores, continued effective staff development, curriculum consistently designed and implemented based on state standards and effective democratic leadership as evidence of the school’s success. The award and designation will be in place for another three years.

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Portland’s Elementary Facilities Task Force is updating a plan for renovating, replacing and consolidating the city’s 10 elementary schools. The new plan will take into account current and projected student enrollment, educational trends and available funding.

The task force, established in 1998, includes city and school officials, parents and staff. The task force’s recommendations laid the groundwork for the comprehensive elementary facilities plan adopted by the Portland School Committee in November 2002. The plan called for rebuilding or renovating eight “anchor schools” in addition to the island schools and closing three others.

Since then, Baxter Elementary School has closed and the East End Community School is nearing completion. It will open in September 2006, serving all of the students now at Adams Elementary School as well as some students at Reiche, Clifford and other schools.

Clifford has been named as the state’s highest priority for reconstruction funds. The task force will look at the possibility of combining Clifford’s population with that of another school and recommend three or four possibilities. While no timetable has been set for the task force’s work, it is expected to take several months. The Portland School Committee will make the final decision.

“Given our declining enrollment, it is inevitable that some elementary schools will close during the coming years,” said Portland Superintendent Mary Jo O’Connor. “I am confident that the Elementary Facilities Task Force will review all of the data in a thoughtful, objective manner. Working together, we can build the best possible elementary schools to serve our children and future generations.”

Portland School Committee member Jason Toothaker chairs the Elementary Facilities Task Force. Michelle Hedrich serves as vice chair.