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Casco Bay High School dismissed school early today, Friday, Dec. 2, due to a significant number of students and staff out because of the flu. The school is expected to reopen on Monday, Dec. 5.

One new member, two returning members and five student representatives will be sworn in at the Portland Board of Public Education Inauguration Ceremony on Dec. 5. The Board also will vote to elect a new chair and vice chair for the coming year.

The City of Portland’s Public Health Division, working with Northern Light, will offer an additional flu and COVID bivalent booster vaccination clinic on Saturday, December 10, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, at 39 Forest Ave. Flu and COVID vaccinations will be available to the public, insured and uninsured.

The traditional Turkey Day football game between Portland and Deering high schools is scheduled for Thanksgiving Day, Thursday. Nov. 24, at Fitzpatrick Stadium. Kickoff is at 10 a.m. this year for the 110th edition of the game.

It’s the time of year to remind everyone about the Portland Public Schools' inclement weather policy and how such decisions get made.This year, bad weather events will be traditional “snow days.” That means our schools will be closed and students will not be expected to go to school in person or learn remotely. Educators will not be expected to work. We will make those days up at the end of the year. 

At its Nov. 15 meeting, the Portland Board of Public Education held a caucus to take an informal vote to select new leaders for the coming year. The Board unanimously chose current Board Chair Emily Figdor to lead the Board again and chose at-large Board member Sarah Lentz to be Vice Chair. A formal vote will take place at the Board's Inauguration on Dec. 5.

Since late yesterday, a PPS network outage has affected Portland High School, King Middle School, East End and Reiche elementary schools and Portland Adult Education. We had expected to get the system back in place today, Thursday, Nov. 17, but we have not been able to make that happen. As a result, Portland High and King will learn remotely on Friday, Nov. 18, and there will be NO school in person or remote at East End and Reiche schools. PAE will hold classes as usual.

As you may have heard, there was an active shooter threat at Portland High School the morning of Tuesday, Nov. 15, that turned out to be a hoax. Shortly after that situation was cleared, we received another threat that morning at Casco Bay High School. Working with police, this threat was determined to be a copycat hoax event.

East End Community School is the grateful recipient of a Little Free Library that is among six that United Way of Southern Maine (UWSM) and WEX, Inc. are installing to promote youth literacy and increase access to books for children. The other libraries are located at local parks and partner organizations in Portland and Biddeford.

Superintendent Xavier Botana and Board Chair Emily Figdor comment on the school budget autonomy vote and congratulate Julianne Opperman, who won the District 3 Board seat after a ranked choice voting runoff on Nov. 9.

The Foundation for Portland Public Schools (FPPS) has just completed its 14th annual teacher grants program cycle. Seventy-six teachers, ed techs, librarians, and others have been awarded grants totaling $59,261. These grants will benefit thousands of students – from preK through Portland Adult Education – in 15 schools across the Portland Public Schools (PPS).

Three seats are up for election to the Portland Board of Education on Nov. 8: two at-large seats and the District 3 seat. Only the District 3 seat is contested on the ballot. Portland voters will also vote on Question 5, which would allow the Board to set the bottom line of the school budget before sending to voters for a final say.

The Rotary Club of Portland, Maine is working with the Portland Public Schools to provide warm, waterproof winter boots to Portland students. There is a huge need as many families are experiencing a Maine winter for the first time. We are reaching out to the Portland community for “gently used boots” and also new boots that we can provide to these students in need.

The city of Portland’s Public Health Division, working with Northern Light, is offering a flu and COVID bivalent booster vaccination clinic on Friday, Nov. 4,  from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at 39 Forest Avenue. Flu and COVID vaccinations will be available to the public, insured and uninsured, ages 12 and older.

The Portland Board of Public Education on Oct. 18 approved another community representative to serve on the Superintendent Search Committee. The appointment of Lucy Shulman, a Portland resident who is an adjunct instructor at Portland Adult Education, brings the number of community representatives on the committee to eight. The Board approved the appointment of the seven other community representatives at its Oct. 11 meeting.

The Portland Board of Public Education voted Oct. 18 to approve a new three-year collective bargaining agreement with the union representing the district’s educational technicians. The new contract recognizes the important work of these key employees and makes the Portland Public Schools more competitive with other districts. The contract runs from Sept. 1, 2021 to Aug. 31, 2024, with wage increases retroactive to that earlier date.

At its Oct. 11 meeting, the Portland Board of Public Education voted unanimously to pass a high school alignment resolution, which commits the district to taking a closer look at ensuring consistent programming and opportunities for students across all three high schools. The Board also voted to appoint seven community members to the Superintendent Search Committee and agreed to consider at its Oct. 18 meeting the appointment of an eighth member representing Portland Adult Education.

Unity Day, which is Wednesday, Oct. 19, is an important part of this month. Everyone is encouraged to wear orange to unite for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion to prevent bullying in school.

The Portland Public Schools needs school crossing guards. Be a local hero to help students get to and from school safely! Rewarding part-time work with no nights, weekends or holidays. Earn $32 per day for less than two hours work!

The Pihcintu Chorus is performing at the Rines Auditorium at the Portland Public Library on Saturday, Oct. 15, at 2 p.m. This free event is a great opportunity for the Portland Public Schools community to show up and support the girls chorus, which welcomes immigrant children from around the globe and helps restart young lives through music.

Thanks to a new Maine law, school meals are free for all Maine students, but it’s still very important to fill out a free-or-reduced school-meal application. Completing the applications provides the Portland Public Schools with family income data that helps the district receive the federal and state funding we need.

At its Sept. 20 meeting, the Portland Board of Public Education voted unanimously to approve a new three-year collective bargaining agreement with the Portland Education Association, The new contract shows trust and collaboration on both sides, with educators and the district working towards a common goal of student success. The contract begins this school year and runs through the 2024-2025 school year.

Research shows that making music benefits mental health, helps engage students in school, and builds community. Students need this more than ever. You can help!

At a ceremony in Brunswick Sept. 15, four Portland Public Schools educators were presented with the 2022 Education for the Common Good Award by Bowdoin College. The four recipients of this year’s award are Superintendent Xavier Botana; PPS Director of BIPOC Career Pathways and Leadership Development Julia Hazel; Portland High School Assistant Principal Alberto Morales, and Executive Director of Human Resources Barbara Stoddard. They were recognized for their work to transform conditions for educators of color in the district

To kick off the NEA Big Read: Portland, ME, a city-wide discussion of immigration using the adult novel INFINITE COUNTRY that is taking place this fall, the Portland nonprofit I’m Your Neighbor Books and USM’s Department of Literacy, Language, and Culture delivered 1,200 children’s books to the Portland Public Schools – texts that will extend the conversation from kindergarten to grade 12. I'm Your Neighbor uses children’s books and stories to welcome immigrants, sharing books that help all students to better understand the perspectives of others and learn to value diversity.