Windham to update property valuations starting this month

Windham Town Assessor Elisa A. Trepanier says
that property valuation updates for the town will
begin this month with Vision Government Solutions
contracted to perform the work. FILE PHOTO 

The Windham Assessing Office will be conducting a property valuation update beginning this month. 

According to Windham Town Assessor Elisa A. Trepanier, the town has contracted with Vision Government Solutions to perform this work.

Windham’s last revaluation occurred in 2019.  Meanwhile, constantly changing economic conditions have resulted in the development of inequities, Trepanier said. 

“These inequities are remedied by reappraising all properties to reflect 2021 market levels.  Because property values fluctuate with market conditions, it is necessary to conduct revaluations to ensure an equitable distribution of the tax burden,” she said.  “Revaluations are performed to return all property values to market levels existing at the time they are conducted.  The value of your property will be based on an analysis of the Windham real estate market for the 12 months prior to April 1, 2021.”

A property valuation update is a process which collects updated property data to be used as a basis for tax purposes. Trepanier said that the Maine Constitution mandates that “all taxes upon real and personal estate, assessed by authority of this State, shall be apportioned and assessed equally according to the just value thereof.”  In order to apportion the tax burden equally, Trepanier said that the town’s Assessing Office must establish assessed valuations at just value. 

“Just value is synonymous with market value.  The property valuation update will equalize valuations so that no one taxpayer pays more or less than their fair share of the tax burden,” Trepanier said in a press release issued Tuesday.

You may see a data collector in your area doing drive by reviews of properties, Trepanier said. These data collectors work for Vision Government Solutions of Hudson, Massachusetts.  Every data collector’s vehicle will be marked with the name and logo of Vision Government Solutions.  Data collectors will be wearing a lanyard and photo identification badge and will also have a letter of authorization from the Town of Windham. 

Vision Government Solutions will review qualified local sales and create updated pricing schedules for land and buildings. The information collected will reflect property status on April 1, 2021 and will be the basis for the 2021/2022 property tax bills.

Trepanier said that every property owner will receive a notice of their proposed valuation based on the analysis performed and will be given the opportunity to discuss their values with appraisal staff during informal hearings at appointed times to be announced toward the end of the revaluation project.

Once the taxable values are established, the Windham Town Council will set the annual tax rate (mil rate). This is done by dividing the town's net appropriations (as voted) by the town's taxable value.

Tax Relief: The following exemptions and current use programs are available to those who qualify. Applications and more information can be obtained either through the Assessing Office or by contacting Maine Revenue Services, Property Tax Division at 287-2013 http://www.maine.gov/revenue/.

·        Veterans Exemption - A person must be a Maine resident, 62 years or older and have served in the U.S. Armed Forces during a Federally Recognized War Period or; be receiving 100% disability compensation for service-connected injury. $6,000

·        Homestead Exemption - A person must be a Maine resident and have owned and resided in the property they consider their homestead and legal residence for at least 12 months prior to date of application.  Forms must be filed with the Assessing Office by April 1.  Forms filed after April 1 of any year will apply to the subsequent year’s tax assessment.

·        Blind Exemption - A person determined to be legally blind. $4,000 Exemption.

·        Renewable Energy Investment Exemption – This program exempts renewable energy equipment such as solar panels, from property tax beginning April 1, 2020.  Taxpayers must apply for the credit by April 1 of the first year the exemption is requested.

·        Senior Tax Reimbursement - You may be eligible for a property tax refund if you meet the following requirements: 1.) are at least sixty-five (65) years old at the time of application; (2) have a home (owned or rented) in Windham that you have lived in for the whole year prior to application; (3)  have been a Windham resident for at least the last ten (10) years; (4)  have paid property taxes in Windham, or rent in Windham on your home for at least a year; (5) have an annual household income less than the amount set annually by the Town Council. Availability of this application begins in July of each year.

Current Use Programs: In the 1970's, the Constitutional Law added a current use clause which allowed special treatment for certain property use.

·        Tree Growth - A parcel of land with at least 10 contiguous forested acres which are harvested for commercial purposes.

·        Farmland - Property must have a minimum of 5 contiguous acres and be used for agricultural purposes with contributing income.

·        Open Space - No minimum acreage but parcel must be undeveloped and provide a public benefit.

Please contact the Windham Assessor’s Office at 207-894-5960 ext. 3 or visit http://www.windhammaine.us/156/Assessor for more information about the revaluation. <

 

American Legion celebrates ‘Americanism Month’

By David Tanguay

February is 'Americanism Month' for American
Legion Field-Allen Post 148 in Windham.
COURTESY PHOTO

Special to The Windham Eagle

“Americanism,” one of the American Legion’s four pillars, is the love of America, loyalty to its ideals and institutions, allegiance to the American flag, willingness to defend the country against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and a desire to advance the blessings of liberty to future Americanism generations.

February is the American Legion’s National Americanism Month. During this annual observance, the American Legion post asks that its members and all citizens reflect upon what it means to be an American and rededicate ourselves and our posts and to taking action that will uphold the principle of “100 percent Americanism.”

The Americanism Pillar is divided into: Youth Programs, Flag Programs, Support for Veterans, and Community Outreach. The American Legion Field-Allen Post 148 in Windham has an Americanism Officer, David Horne, who annually coordinates and supports a variety of programs and projects that reflect the Americanism principals with support from the community and the post membership.

Under youth programs, the post supports the annual Boys State and Girls State (ALA Sponsored) program. The plan for 2020 was to begin the integration of these two programs, but, due to the pandemic, was canceled for that June. The program tutors our high school juniors in the process of local and state government and has sufficient funds to support four boys this year with scholarships. The Unit Auxiliary supports the same precepts for Girls State. Selections for Boys and Girls State will be in April. The post annually selects a male and female graduating student from the class who exemplifies leadership in school and the community.  The recipients receive a leadership “School” medallion, pin and certificate and is awarded a modest scholarship for use in their education.

The American Flag, the symbol of our great country, is a key precept of the Americanism Program.  The Field-Allen Post 148 in Windham supports flag etiquette and training programs for various organizations and schools.  If there is interest in these training opportunities, give the post a call. For the Flags Around Town Program, the post undertook an Americanism program in 2005 in collaboration with the town to place 100 U.S. flags on the utility poles on the highways and byways of Windham. In May of this year, the post will be undertaking that same goal for the 15^th consecutive year. 

Other programs that directly or indirectly support include our support for veterans and national security, blood drives and food drives.  Nationally, the American Legion supports more Red Cross blood drives than any other organization in the country. Since last June, the Post has collected on average of 30 units each, covering six events at the Windham Veterans Center. Additionally, the post collects food items annually for the local food pantry over Memorial Day weekend and collects food items in support of the Portland Vet Center food pantry for homeless veterans on a weekly basis at the Windham Veterans Center from 9 to 11 a.m. on Wednesdays. The response since November from the community has been overwhelming and much appreciated.

The post also sponsors a very successful Vet Coffee program held each Wednesday at the Windham veterans Center from 9 to 11 a.m. This coffee gathering is multi-faceted in that it provides opportunity for local veterans to “drop-in” for a social experience with their peers. It also has a therapeutic element with many of our vets that gives them an opportunity to share experiences in a safe environment.

Americanism programs are a year-round opportunity for our members to serve their community. Often, they do not get the credit that they are due. If you see a Veteran, thank them for their service. If you see a Legion Member, thank them as well for all they do in your community.

If you want to be part of the team? Contact the Field-Allen Post Adjutant Dave Tanguay at 207-892-1306 or ask any post member. <

Raymond club crafts warm hats, mittens for local students

Members of the Raymond Community Knitting
and Crocheting Club made and donated 25 pairs
of mittens and hats to students at Raymond
Elementary School. SUBMITTED PHOTO

By Ed Pierce

When the pandemic arrived in Maine last March, a devoted group of Raymond knitters and crocheters just weren’t ready to put down their needles and find another hobby. In fact, they saw the pandemic as an opportunity to continue doing what they love while helping others at the same time.

While practicing social distancing and wearing masks, the dozen or so members of the Raymond Community Knitting and Crocheting Club have kept on meeting twice a month at the Raymond Village Community Church, sharing camaraderie, cups of tea and a love for the craft of creating projects that keep others warm in the winter. The club started three years ago and not only is an outlet for creativity, but also to keep friends and neighbors busy and engaged in life.

“It’s really about getting to know other people person to person,” said Brenda Olsen, a member of the Raymond Community Knitting and Crocheting Club. “People come here as much for socialization as much as they do to knit and crochet.”

The club is open to anyone with an interest in knitting or crocheting in the Raymond and Windham communities and meets from 2 to 4 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month.

“I really like crocheting,” Olsen said. “It keeps my hands busy and I’m able to make small projects fast. All of the projects I make I then give away as gifts.”

According to Olsen, even though the Raymond Community Knitting and Crocheting Club meets at Raymond Village Community Church, it’s not a religious organization.

“Everyone is invited, regardless of skill,” she said. “It is nice to meet and get new ideas and help with projects.”

She said that some club members are experienced at knitting and crocheting while others are just learning.

“We can teach you how to do it if you would like to learn,” Olsen said.

After decades of decline, knitting and crocheting is enjoying a revival in popularity as the internet has made it easier to share patterns and connect with others worldwide who are passionate about making items by hand and crafts in general. Yarn and craft shops are rebounding as sources for material and interactive ideas for new projects.  

In case you were wondering, knitting and crocheting are vastly different activities. Knitting uses a pair of long needles to form loops, moving a set of loops back and forth from one needle to another while the stitches are held firm on the needle. Crocheting is a bit simpler, using a single hook to hook yarn loops together directly, making crocheting a great deal easier to perform than knitting.  

Olsen herself became interested in knitting and crocheting after attending a beginner’s class at Rosemary’s Yarn Shop in Windham a few years ago.

“Knitting and crocheting is sort of an underground activity, she said. “Many people first hear about it through word of mouth. I tried it and was hooked. It’s a great pursuit.”

Last year club members made several hats and gave them to the Seafarer’s Mission, which were then distributed to sailors from all over the world, who come to Portland or other ports along the coast of Maine.

“This year an idea was presented from a member of our group, Sarah Allen, who told us about her friend, a teacher in Norway, who said that children were coming to school last fall without hats and mittens.

“We realized that this probably happens a lot in our communities,” Olsen said. “We checked with the Raymond Elementary School and they were delighted to have us make hats and mittens for the young school children.”

Last week the club presented the school with 25 sets of hats and mittens for students with most made from donated yarn.

“On average it takes about an hour to make a hat,” Olsen said. “It runs about an hour to make a pair of mittens.” 

She said club members were happy to work on such a meaningful project and see their handiwork be used to keep children warm.

“Everyone who worked on these hats and mittens had fun doing it and we’re pleased they will be used by the children,” Olsen said.

Raymond Elementary School Principal Beth Peavey said that the school is appreciative of the donation.

It's heartwarming to have a thoughtful community organization such as the Raymond Community Knitting and Crocheting Club donate 25 handmade hats and mittens,” Peavey said. “Each student who has picked out a hat or mitten walks out of the office with a big smile and is ready to brave the winter air. We are so thankful and grateful for the generous donation.”        

For more information about the Raymond Community Knitting and Crocheting Club, call 207-655-7749 or send an email to office@rvcc.org. < 

Maine’s ‘School Psychologist of the Year’ hails from RSU 14

By Ed Pierce

For more than two decades, school psychologist Lisa Backman has devoted her career to improving the lives of RSU 14 students in Windham and Raymond. Earlier this month, all of Backman’s hard work and care paid off in a big way as the Maine Association of School Psychologists honored Backman as the Maine School Psychologist of the Year.

The award acknowledges a member of the Maine Association of School Psychologists who demonstrates excellence in school psychology practice, and leadership in the profession.

“Beyond the role of evaluators, school psychologists fill a crucial role in school communities providing consultation and collaboration in intervention systems and supporting school staff through professional development and technical assistance,” stated Erin Frazier, Maine Department of Education Director of Special Services. “These individuals are critical to SAUs efforts to provide a continuum of services to all children.”

RSU 14 school psychologist Lisa Backman,
who works with kindergarten through fifth-grade
students in Windham and Raymond, has been
honored as Maine's School Psychologist of 
the Year by the Maine Association of School
Psychologists. COURTESY PHOTO 

Backman has been providing psychological services to RSU 14 since 1999 and she also serves as an adjunct professor at Saint Joseph’s College.

Frazier said that Backman is a trusted professional within her school community among students, staff, and families.

“Maine Department of Education recognizes there is a critical shortage of school psychologists in the state that is long standing,” Frazier said. “These positions are critical to fulfill child find responsibilities and support effective programming for students.”

A nationally certified school psychologist, Backman is a native of Maine and has lived most of her life in the Sebago Lake Region. After attending high school, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in communication from the University of Southern Maine and then went on to obtain a master’s degree in school psychology. She works with children in kindergarten through fifth grade in Windham and Raymond schools.

Backman said that her primary role for the district involves serving as part of the special education team at Windham Primary School and Manchester School and evaluating students in kindergarten through Grade 5 for special education eligibility.

“My daily work schedule is vast, which requires a lot of flexibility. Each day is different as I could be observing in the learning environments, consulting with special and regular education teachers, developing behavioral/social-emotional intervention plans, report writing, and attending Response to Intervention or IEP meetings,” Backman said. “Ultimately, the best part is meeting one-on-one with students through the evaluation process.”

She said the field of school psychology requires a combination of child-center and systems-based perspectives, regulations considerations, ethical standards, and vast expertise in social-emotional learning, behavioral functioning, and developmental and learning theory.  

“I feel flexibility and compassion are two very necessary and important attributes,” Backman said. “I feel lucky to have found a profession that requires a mix of empathy, collaboration, continuous learning, and critical thinking skills. I could not say what is the most important aspect of my work, but I am most satisfied and fulfilled when I can go home feeling like I have made a difference.”

Backman said her family is thrilled to see her honored with the award.

“It was very special to see them during the remote announcement while I was still at work. They are proud and loved the MASP plaque. My youngest felt it should be hung at our camp. When Windham/Raymond consolidated, I was lucky to have an opportunity to work in their schools for a few years,” she said. “While they may not be able to explain what I do every day, they could share stories like the many times I (and other school psych friends) used them to practice new tests. My fondest memory was a story a colleague/school psychologist shared with me. She was in my son’s middle-school classroom observing a student on her caseload. My son said hello to her, as she entered. The student that she was observing asked my son why she was in their classroom. He replied, ‘Oh that is my mom’s friend. She sends her in to check on me sometimes.’ We had a good laugh.”

Christopher Howell, RSU 14 Schools Superintendent, said that Backman is highly deserving of this honor.

“What’s special about the work Mrs. Backman does with students is her comprehensive approach to support,” Howell said. “She is an integral member of her school teams and can look at the whole child from the perspective of someone who really knows the evaluation data within a practical context to make recommendations to support children she works with.”

Howell said Backman exemplifies exactly what RSU 14 is striving to achieve.

“As an RSU we are, just as Mrs. Backman is, looking forward at the bigger picture,” he said. “We are looking at not only academics, but at social-emotional needs to support students who will grow up to be productive and engaged members of our community.”

According to Howell, Backman is a truly passionate professional, always growing and sharing what she learns.
“She is dedicated, efficient and committed. Lisa contributes broadly to the profession by leading student-centered teams within each of her schools, supporting best practices in Special Education for the Maine Department of Education, inspiring new teachers at the college level, and providing leadership within her professional organization of School Psychologists,” Howell said. We are very fortunate to have her level of knowledge and passion supporting the educators, families and professionals in RSU 14.”

Windham Primary School Principal Dr. Kyle Rhoads said the RSU is fortunate to have her calm demeanor, as well as her extensive knowledge of research-based practices and Special Education law to help make the IEP process one that aligns with their mission.

Rhoads said that as a school psychologist, Backman demonstrates the qualities, capabilities and knowledge of a successful nominee worthy of this award.

“Importantly, she approaches her work and her life wanting to better others,” he said. “Her creativity and commitment with her work reflects favorably what RSU 14 is trying to accomplish.” <

Windham establishes new TIF districts, amends another one

By Ed Pierce

If Windham is to sustain orderly growth and development now and into the future, the importance of continuous investment and infrastructure improvements remains at the forefront for those leading the town.

With that in mind, the Windham Town Council approved two new Tax Increment Financing Districts and amended an existing TIF at its Jan. 26 meeting. Councilors conducted public hearings about the issue and agreed to establish new 30-year TIF districts for North Windham and South Windham and voted to amend the current NW Roosevelt Trail TIF.

Members of the Windham Town Council amended the current
Tax Increment Financing District for the shown NW Roosevelt
Trail area and also created new 30-year TIF districts for North
Windham and South Windham during a meeting on Jan. 26.
The TIFs will encourage orderly development and help pay
for infrastructure improvements in those areas of the town.
PHOTO BY KEITH MANK 

“With the public hearings the town has approved these TIFs and have now sent the materials to be approved by the Department of Economic and Community Development at the state level,” said Windham Town Manager Barry Tibbetts. “These TIFs are for infrastructure improvements, roads, sidewalks, lights, sewer, transportation needs, and traffic improvements.

Tibbetts said that these TIFs do not allow for any credit enhancements to be paid out or shared with any businesses or developers.

According to Tibbetts, Tax Increment Financing Districts are great tools for the community and allow for very effective use of those incremental valuation tax funds.

“The TIF in the simplest definition is they support businesses, provide for essential improvements for the community through strategic planning,” Tibbetts said.

Here in Maine, Tax Increment Financing is a flexible finance tool used by towns and municipalities to leverage new property taxes generated by a specific project or projects within a defined geographic district. Any portion of the new taxes generated may be used to finance public or private projects for up to a defined time period of 30 years.

The town gets to outline the TIF district size and boundaries, determines the amount of new taxes to be captured, identifies allowable public and private projects and exercises oversight for the TIF district.

TIFs may provide funding for a business seeking an investment or it could reserve a portion of newly generated revenue for specific public use that benefit as community ranging from upgrading a road or adding on to an existing structure or facility without affecting a decrease in state revenue as a community prospers.

As the tax foundation of a community expands as the town develops, conversely it eases the tax burden on residents and businesses. TIFS foster and encourage new development by allowing a community to retain new tax money without losing state revenue.

Tibbetts said by state law, Windham is limited to the total area allowed within TIF districts but is only using 1.5 percent of an allotted 5 percent overall.

“The TIF allows the community to capture 100 percent of the dollars to be used for improvements such as sidewalks, roads, lighting, traffic improvements, etc.,” he said. “This occurs since the identified valuation is separated from our total town valuation. The result allows certain funds from the state to increase and other responsibilities to decrease since these are based on the total town valuation.”

He said that because of the TIF approval, the town will pay less county tax creating savings for the town budget, RSU 14 will receive a greater share of the State Aid to Education funding lessening the burden to the local property taxpayers, and it increases the revenue sharing dollars Windham now receives from the state.

“Since TIFs allow the incremental taxes to be dedicated to specific projects, we are able to apply long term funding to specifically address anticipated issues in the future,” Tibbetts said. “For example, we know traffic through the northwest area of Windham in the summer is a problem, we know heading south on Route 302 and taking a left at Route 115 is challenging, and we know having a sewer system within certain areas preserves water quality and allows for business growth and jobs, there are many needs to address. These items and many others will need funding to correct.”

Using TIFs allows the town to plan for these changes, use the funds set aside to match Federal and State Grant programs and pay for improvements, and lowers the burden for taxpayers in the municipal budget, Tibbetts said.

“Short term we are able to use funds to bring in the necessary consultants to assist in solving and identifying items,” he said. “These TIFs put in place the ‘vehicle’ for the town to get to an end solution.” <

Windham Middle School restocks food pantry shelves

Windham Middle School students collected a total of 651
items to assist in restocking the Windham Food Pantry after
a busy holiday season. The seventh grade at WMS amassed
the largest number of items collected during the initiative.
SUBMITTED PHOTO

By Elizabeth Richards   

Windham Middle School has a history of promoting community service and giving back to the community. Recently, the school provided 651 items to help restock the Windham Food Panty after their busy holiday season.

Debbie Hall, attendance secretary, receptionist and “jack of all trades” at WMS, said that the food drive is an annual event. Hall, who has worked at the school for 22 years, said the student council used to head up the food drive, but handed it over to Lee Leroy, a beloved health teacher at the school, about four years ago. Mrs. Leroy passed away two years ago, and Hall said the school has conducted the annual food drive in her memory since then.

The year Mrs. Leroy passed away was the largest collection, with more than 1,000 items, she said, but this year was one of the biggest collections they’ve done, despite the pandemic.

There was a friendly competition between the grades, with the seventh grade emerging victorious.

“It was close. Every day it changed,” Hall said, “But a couple of big donations came in for the seventh grade as the competition drew to a close. We’ve never had one this neck and neck, so it was good, but at the last minute the seventh grade really pulled ahead.”

   

Although collecting food was more challenging this year, because of the pandemic and students only being physically in school a couple of days per week, Hall said there was more participation.

Parents of remote students brought items in, community members without kids in the school participated, and the PTA donated $50 to the food pantry as part of the drive.

Hall said she stressed that they were working to replenish the food pantry because it was one of their busiest seasons ever. A specific list of things that the pantry needed most was available for families and community members.

“I always call and ask what they need, because otherwise you get 500 boxes of pasta,” she said.

This year those needs included condiments, pasta sauce, jelly, paper towels, wipes, and certain vegetables, and that’s what the students came through with, Hall said.

“We hit the specific targets that they were low on.,” she said.

Windham Food Pantry officials are grateful for the assistance.
“It’s wonderful what the middle school students did to help replenish food items that are in high demand at the Windham Food Pantry, even pet food,” said Colette Gagnon, Social Services Administrative Assistant for the Town of Windham, who runs the Windham Food Pantry. “It’s great to see the younger citizens of Windham take great concern for those in need of food security.”

Drew Patin, WMS principal, said that connection and contributions to the community are part of the vision being developed for RSU 14, including events like the food drive.

“For students that participate it’s really around feeling like they are contributing to the community,” he said.

Hall said that the school does other service events throughout the year as well.

During the holiday season, for instance, they helped 33 families at the school, providing a warm blanket, hat and mittens for each child, along with items from their wish lists.

In the spring, she said, they hope to do something with a local animal shelter or possibly even the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals on River Road. <

Diamond announces MDOT work plan for state projects in district

In the newly released MDOT Three-Year Plan, 
light capital paving for Falmouth Road will run from 
0.03 of a mile south of Stevens Road and extend south
0.79 of a mile to Route 202 in Windham. FILE PHOTO

AUGUSTA – Sen. Bill Diamond, a Democrat from Windham, has shared the details of Maine’s three-year transportation infrastructure work plan, and what it means for Baldwin, Casco, Frye Island, Raymond, Standish and Windham.

The plan is released annually with an outline of the Maine Department of Transportation’s strategy for road, bridge and other transportation upgrades and maintenance projects.

“Safe and easy-to-use roads, bridges, rail and ferries are essential to daily life for the people who live here and for the millions of people who visit Maine every year,” said Diamond. “As senate chair of the Legislature’s Transportation Committee, I know there is always more work to be done in improving our infrastructure. I’m thankful to the MDOT for all the work that they have done in creating this three-year plan.”

According to the MDOT, the work plan covers about $2.71 billion worth of construction and maintenance, which includes 2,180 work items. The three-year plan estimates MDOT will invest in 100 miles of highway construction and rehabilitation; 893 miles of pavement preservation; 2,175 miles of light capital paving for roads and highways; 222 safety and spot improvements; and 166 bridge projects.

The following breakdown is the planned capital and maintenance work for the communities in Senate District 26 in 2021:

Bridge Work:
In Windham, replacing joints, applying sealer to wearing surface, and repairing abutment on Narrows Bridge over Ditch Brook located 260 feet west of Running Brook Road.

Drainage Maintenance:
In Buxton and Standish, drainage improvements along Route 35 beginning at Long Plains Road in Buxton and extending east 3.19 miles to Standish compact line, located 0.24 of a mile west of Apple Lane in Standish.

 
In Casco, improvement of the large culvert on Route 302 located 0.1 of a mile north of the Bramble Hill Road.

Highway Paving:
In Gorham and Windham, 1 ¼-inch overlay of Route 202 beginning at Route 25 and extending north 3.76 miles, not including Deguio Mill Bridge.

 
In Gray and Raymond, light capital paving of Egypt Road beginning at North Raymond Road and extending west 4.00 miles to Route 85.

 
In Raymond, light capital paving of Route 121 beginning at Route 35 and extending north 2.07 miles.

 
In Raymond, light capital paving of Route 85 beginning at Route 302 and extending northeast 3.78 miles to Raymond Hill Road.

 
In Standish, light capital paving of Saco Road beginning 0.17 of a mile north of Cape Road and extending north 1.79 miles.

 
In Windham, light capital paving on Falmouth Road beginning 0.03 of a mile south of Stevens Road and extending south 0.79 of a mile to Route 202.

Highway Safety and Spot Improvements:
In Windham, installation of adaptive traffic signaling systems at various intersections along Route 302, beginning at Route 115 and extending northwest 1.14 miles to Trails End Road. Municipal Partnership Initiative Program.

Policy, Planning and Research:
In Windham, feasibility study of Route 302 beginning at Route 202 and extending north 6.32 miles. Planning Partnership Initiative Program.

 
In Windham, planning for Varney's Bridge over Pleasant River. Located 0.44 of a mile northwest of Route 4.

Ferry Service
Capital improvements to the Frye Island Ferry Service between Raymond and Frye Island.

The entire MDOT three-year work plan can be viewed here. <

GoFundMe campaign set up for new Raymond Elementary laminator

By Daniel Gray   

A GoFundMe campaign has been created to help Raymond Elementary School purchase a new laminator for documents.

The campaign was launched in December by Karlie Rouzer, a resident of Raymond since 2016 and the treasurer of the Parent Teacher Organization for the Raymond school district.

The staff at Raymond Elementary School had reached out to the PTO in hopes that they would create something that could help get them a laminator for the students.

According to Rouzer, a laminator helps in the process of keeping students and staff safe, since laminated paper can be easily wiped down and disinfected from spreading germs.

Rouzer said the addition of a new laminator would be another tool that teachers could use with their students to keep everyone happy.

However, not everyone was overjoyed hearing about the campaign.

Weeks into January, a Raymond resident of 11 years and GoFundMe donator, Stephanie Burke, shared the link on Facebook. Many commentors on the post were supportive of the needs of the school and pitched their own money in to help out, while others weren't too keen about the school needing money at all.

"I was surprised at all the negative feedback on my post, especially it being a local school," she said.

It didn't take long for the post to gain a lot of negative attention, which put a damper on both Burke and Rouzer.

However, the post was not deleted and the two were determined to spread the word still.

Many donations were gained and the GoFundMe for the new school laminator is sitting just a little under halfway to their $2,500 goal.

"I know times are hard, and maybe you feel like the cost of things like a laminator should be included in the school's budget,” Rouzer said. “But personally, and as part of the PTO, I want to support the community, and that includes the schools, and I feel like the schools don’t reach out and ask for much so when they do, it's important to me to do what I can."

The practical applications for the new laminator for Raymond Elementary School are endless and cost-effective. Since young students often use workbooks to learn things like numbers and letters, instead of paying for additional pricey workbooks, pages can be copied and laminated for use by many different students.

Lamination also can be used for math and teaching basic reading such as making reusable flash cards and letters of the alphabet. It can be used to make flash cards of the U.S. states, for labeling student artwork or even for identifying parts of a sentence like verbs.

They have applications for art classes and for making and preserving simple and memorable student holiday crafts.

If you would like to donate to the Raymond Elementary School's laminator fund, please visit https://gofund.me/3e0e37aa.

Even if you are unable to donate right now, clicking the share button and posting to one of the preset social media sites does help spread the word, Rouzer said. <

South Windham parade salutes World War II veteran’s 98th birthday

By Ed Pierce

Of the 16 million Americans who wore the uniform of the United States during World War II, Bob Miele of South Windham remains proud of his service, his family and the community he treasures. And as he celebrated his 98th birthday on Jan. 25, Miele was honored with a parade, greetings from Windham’s police chief, a gift from Windham’s American Legion post and cheers from more than three dozen friends and family members.

Drafted in the U.S. Army, Miele joined his brother Ralph in uniform and served from 1941 to 1945 in the U.S. Army’s European Theater in England, France and Germany. He worked as a T5 Signal Corps Early Warning Radar Operator tracking enemy aircraft and German V-1 buzz bombs.

World War II veteran Bob Miele of South Windham, far right,
waves to vehicles participating in a parade marking his 98th 
birthday on Jan. 25. More than 50 vehicles were in the parade
and a crowd of more than three dozen of Miele's family and 
friends attended the event. Miele owned and operated
'Patsy's' store for many years in South Windham and served
as a radar operator in England, France and Germany during
World War II. PHOTO BY ED PIERCE

The parade included more than 50 vehicles, police cruisers, veterans, Shriners, and fire trucks filled with well-wishers who turned out wanting to say happy birthday to Miele. The parade stretched all the way from the old Windham Fire Station to the new fire station on Route 202.

His grandson, Tim Pomerleau of Raymond, said it is the first time he can ever remember a parade in which Bob was not a participant.

“My grandfather was a Shriner Crazy Cop for many years and made Shriner trips to the circus, parades and Canada and I used to love going with him to those,” he said.

After his military service ended, Miele returned to Windham and eventually took over operation of his father’s store, Patsy’s, located directly across from the old fire station in South Windham.

 

“He was actually a volunteer firefighter back in those days too,” said David Tanguay, adjutant for American Legion Field-Allen Post 148 in Windham. “He lived above Patsy’s and when he heard the fire alarm go off, he got dressed and ran across the street to the fire station. He was always the first one to report for duty there.”

His daughter, Tina Pomerleau of Falmouth, said she was surprised by the outpouring of love and support for her father as he celebrated his birthday.

“It’s just amazing,” she said. “I don’t know how it happened, but he has received almost 100 birthday cards in the mail coming from all across the country too. He’s very happy today.”

Tanguay said his family kept the parade a secret from him until it was time to go outside to watch it as it drove near his condominium on Depot Street.

“He was only told he had to be in the condo lobby at 10 a.m. for some member of his church who wanted to wish him a happy birthday,” Tanguay said. “When he stepped out of the building, he was met with accolades and well wishes by dozens of family and friends.”

After the parade, Windham Police Chief Kevin Schofield thanked Miele for his service to the nation and to the community and he presented him with a “Challenge Coin” and a Windham Police patch.

Schofield said he was humbled to be included in the parade and to meet Miele.

“It’s quite an honor for a living member of the Greatest Generation,” Schofield said. “This means a lot to his family and for me, it’s an honor to be a part of this.”

Tanguay also gave Miele a special “Eagle Cane” and a citation from the American Legion marking his 98th birthday.

The Eagle Cane Project originated in Oklahoma and was introduced in Maine in 2008. Woodcarver Jack Nitz of Tulsa, Oklahoma launched the Eagle Cane Program after watching an ABC News television segment in 2004 about post-Sept. 11 veterans. Nitz, who served in the Navy from 1948 to 1957, said he realized there was "a little something" that he, as a woodcarver and cane maker, could do to let injured veterans know they had support from people in their community and to also honor them for their service.

The Eagle Cane program has now spread to 32 different states, including Maine, and is a collaborative initiative that awards quality hand-carved personalized Eagle Head canes to deserving veterans in recognition for their service to the United States.

Miele, whose wife of 53 years, Alys, died in 2016, said he was overwhelmed by all of the attention for his birthday and said he remembers when annual Fourth of July parades took the same route as this one did years ago.

“This one seemed to be larger than those parades were,” he said. “I’ve never had a parade in my honor before and it feels remarkable.” <

Local dog groomer relates story of kindness on Kelly Clarkson Show

Lavish Dog Day Spa owner Caitlyn Brundage, left, appeared
with Kelly Perry and her son, Carter, on the Jan. 21 edition of
the Kelly Clarkson Show on television and was interviewed by
host Kelly Clarkson about an act of kindness that the dog
grooming business performed for Carter last summer. An
employee of Lavish Dog Day Spa found Carter's lost 'Stuffy
Puppy' named 'Cheese Puff' and gave him a bath and comb-out
before contacting the family to return it to them.
COURTESY PHOTO 

By Ed Pierce

A genuine act of kindness has garnered national attention for the owner of Lavish Dog Day Spa in Standish and Raymond and led to her appearance on the Kelly Clarkson television program last week.

Caitlyn Brundage was contacted by a producer of “The Kelly Clarkson Show” back in October about a lost stuffed puppy that a member of her staff, Bri Long, found last summer outside the business in Standish. They gave the lost stuffed animal a spa treatment before it was returned to its owner, a 7-year-old named Carter.

Carter's grandmother, Karin Hopkins Dickson, had posted a message on Facebook in the Standish Maine Community Page pleading for members to be on the lookout for Carter’s lost “Stuffy Puppy” he calls “Cheese Puff” that was last seen near a local restaurant and a barbershop in Standish.

“Cheese Puff” is a small brown stuffed dog with green and blue droopy ears, a blue nose and a prominent green eye. As it turned out, the restaurant and area where “Cheese Puff” was lost is adjacent to the Lavish Dog Day Spa and was where Long discovered Carter’s stuffed animal.

Once rescued by Lavish Dog Day Spa, the “Stuffy Puppy” was pampered by staff members as if it were a real canine complete with a bubble bath, a luxurious combing and then had a light blue bow tied around his neck. Brundage notified Carter’s mother, Kelly Perry, that “Cheese Puff” had been found and was ready to be reunited with Carter.

Once word of the act of kindness shown to “Cheese Puff” and Carter’s family by Lavish Dog Day Spa got out, members of the media thought it was a great story to tell their audiences. The story was filmed for different television segments that aired on News Center Maine, CBS This Morning and CNN.

The news also reached the desks of “The Kelly Clarkson Show” producers early last fall and they inquired if the dog groomers would be interested in doing another segment for their daytime program.

To be considered for an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Brundage did a preliminary Zoom interview with Kelly Clarkson’s producers and agreed to be on the program with Carter and his mother.

“We filmed on Jan. 13 and it aired on Jan. 21,” Brundage said. “It was a Skype call from my house.”

She was not paid for being on the show but said that the segment they were featured on partnered with a company gifting $1,000, so she received $500 and the boy and his mother also received $500.

“I was pretty nervous since it is airing nationally, but I handled it well I think,” Brundage said. “I did get to practice with a producer beforehand which was very helpful. Everyone I dealt with during the experience was fantastic to work with.”

According to Brundage, who started her local dog grooming business in Windham before moving it to Standish and then acquired a second location in Raymond taking over when Julie Chouinard of Dog-Gone Grooming retired in December, she is pleased that her family living out of state did get to watch her appearance on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” when it aired nationally.

“I will obviously remember talking with Kelly Clarkson,” Brundage said. “And it was great to talk with Carter and his mom Kelly as well.”

She says appearing on the Kelly Clarkson Show was a wonderful experience and her advice for those about to appear on television coast to coast is rather simple.

“Just try to relax and enjoy the experience,” Brundage said. “It is easier said than done for sure, though.”

Brundage said that she hopes that the Lavish Dog Day Spa’s rescue of “Cheese Puff” also inspires others to be kind to others.

“I just love how something so simple and fun that we did is turning into such an inspirational story,” she said. <

Eagle Scout builds information kiosk at Tassel Top to benefit park and trail users

By Lorraine Glowczak

Jonah Martin stands beside the informational
kiosk he built for the Raymond Parks and 
Recreation Department as his Eagle Scout
Service Project. The kiosk, located at Tassel
Top Park off Route 302 just after the gated
entrance there, will provide trail information
and post town news and events.
SUBMITTED PHOTO

It has been said that Eagle Scouts will say the most rewarding requirement of becoming an Eagle - the highest achievement attainable in BSA (Boy Scouts of America) – is their service project. Although considered the most rewarding part of the BSA experience, very few members work toward the honorable rank. Jonah Martin of Raymond’s Troop 800 is among the special few, choosing to serve the Town of Raymond to fulfill his Scout Project requirements.

“Only about 8 percent of Scouts in the U.S. received their badge and became an Eagle Scout in 2019,” said Martin, who is a member of the 2021 graduating class at Windham High School.

Not only did Martin want to reach the Eagle rank because he was inspired to do so, but he lightheartedly admitted there was a little competition involved.

“Both of my brothers received the rank of Eagle, so I had to show them that I could do it too,” Martin said.

Although Martin speaks with jest about his service project, the process of obtaining an Eagle rank is an arduous one. Not only must an Eagle demonstrate proficiency in many different areas to include a leadership role within the local troop, but the Scout must also work on the project while continuing with schoolwork and other school-related activities.

The decision to reach out to the Town of Raymond was an easy one for Martin, first approaching the Public Works Department. “I wanted to do a project that would benefit Raymond because my experience living in this town has been a very positive one for me,” Martin said.

The public works department directed Martin to the Raymond Parks and Recreation Department’s (RPR) Director, Joseph Crocker. Since the RPR is newly created, becoming an official department of the town early last year in February 2020, officials at public works thought that recreation could benefit more from Martin’s Eagle Service proposal.

“There are a few small projects we have been considering, so I was very happy that Jonah reached out to the town,” Crocker said. “Public use of the trails through the wooded areas at Tassel Top have been extensive and we wanted to improve the user’s experience. After Jonah and I discussed some possibilities, we agreed an informational kiosk that could provide trail information and post town news and events would be beneficial for both Raymond and people who use the trails.”

Once the decision was made, then Martin quickly got to work which included raising funds needed for the building materials. “Jonah did a remarkable job with his fundraising efforts,” Crocker said. “We certainly worked together to bring the vision of a kiosk to life, but other than that – he did all the fundraising and physical work. He successfully made the kiosk happen and we are very happy with the outcome.”

Crocker and Martin wish to thank the Raymond Public Works Department for expanding the parking area near the kiosk, which is located off Route 302 and immediately after the gated entrance to the park.

Not only did Martin create a project that will be enjoyed by those who live in the area at the present time but will be appreciated for many generations to come.

“I had a running joke with Jonah,” Crocker said. “I told him that one day he will leave to explore the world and eventually meet that special someone. He will get married, have children and come back to Raymond to live, visiting Tassel Top from time to time, proudly and constantly reminding his children every time they visit, ‘Yep - I built that kiosk when I was a young.’”

After graduation this June, Martin will join the U.S. Coast Guard, and attend basic training this summer. He also plans to obtain his Emergency Medical Technician certification and be trained to work in the health services division of the Coast Guard.<

Spring Birdhouse Raffle a new fundraiser for Raymond Village Library

By Daniel Gray

Examples of birdhouses on display at the Raymond
Village Library are shown. A total of 20 pre-made
birdhouses have been handed out so far as 
part of a new fundraiser for the library. 
SUBMITTED PHOTO   

So far this year, there have been many new beginnings for residents and businesses alike. While the snow thaws early with hopes of more being blanketed across the state, Raymond has been creating some fun new traditions of their own so far this January.

Earlier this month, Raymond's Village Library located off Meadow Road, announced a new event they will be hosting aimed specifically toward crafters in the area. 

The Spring Birdhouse Raffle is a fun activity that the whole family can partake in to create a beautiful bird house to be a bird's future home, library officials said. Not only are the birdhouses designed fully by their creators, but the money made from the raffle is for a good cause. 

Casco resident and Raymond Village Library Director Allison Griffin said the library welcomes new initiatives such as the Spring Birdhouse Raffle.

"The birdhouse project is a new fundraiser for us this year. We have had a lot of positive feedback so far and are hopeful the raffle will be successful,” Griffin said. “In addition to raising funds to support library programs and services, we also hope the project will provide a fun activity for our patrons and community members.! We look forward to displaying all the creative designs in the library for our patrons to enjoy."

While this fundraiser is new to the library, people have already been flocking there to get themselves a birdhouse to decorate, along with viewing the birdhouses that have already been designed and returned to be viewed.

As of this week, a total of 20 pre-made birdhouses have been handed out, already reaching past the initial goal Griffin and the library staff had established.

 

According to Griffin, the birdhouses being handed out to the public have been voluntarily made by the Maine Wood Carvers Association.

 

The birdhouse raffle asks that creations be returned to the library by March 1, where they will be displayed to the public and then raffled out afterward.

The raffle tickets are $1 each with a deal of six tickets for $5. Each ticket can be placed toward a specific birdhouse in the raffle.  Winners will be notified via phone or email on April 4.

The Raymond Village Library's hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.

Griffin said that anyone is welcome to drop in to grab a book to read and a birdhouse to decorate.

 

She said that even though they have pre-made birdhouses on hand, the public is encouraged to create and submit a design of their own if they have the know-how and materials to do so.

 

For more information about the Spring Birdhouse Raffle, please visit www.raymondvillagelibrary.org.<

Windham Fire Department grateful for Hovercraft donation

Lee's Family Trailer Sales and Service donated this
four-passenger Neoteric Hovercraft to the Windham Fire
Department. It will allow fire and  rescue crews to be better 
able to respond to emergencies on and around bodies of
water. COURTESY PHOTO, DANIEL CRAFFEY  

By Elizabeth Richards

In a community with an abundance of recreational water bodies, safety can be a top concern. Through the donation of a four-passenger Neoteric Hovercraft, the Windham Fire Department will be more able to respond to emergencies on and around these bodies of water.

Daniel Craffey, the owner of Lee’s Family Trailer Sales and Service in Windham, said that they received the vehicle as a trade in. While they initially considered reselling it, he said, after looking online and seeing that it could be used for ice rescues, they quickly decided to donate it to the fire department instead.

This isn’t the first time that the company has donated a valuable resource to the community’s public safety personnel. They’ve also rebuilt a trailer, free of charge, for the police department.

“We’ve got some great employees here and they all live in the area,” Craffey said. “Windham’s been a great place to do business and we like to do stuff like that.”

The business has grown substantially, Craffey said, since he took over in 2017. “We’re doing really well here, and we want to pass it on,” he said.

A hovercraft vehicle is a machine that can operate on land, water, and even broken-up ice. A fan forces air under the machine, lifting it to float up to 9 inches above the surface on a cushion of air, according to the Neoteric website.

Windham Fire Chief Brent Libby said that until last year, the department hadn’t had a marine resource for several years. Last year, the department partnered with the Maine Forest Service, housing a 16-foot aluminum boat in return for access to that boat.

The hovercraft, he said, provides an additional marine resource that will be useful not only on open water, but especially on ice. Currently, if an incident occurs on the ice, the department would either need to get an airboat from the warden service or walk out in their gear, which could take a significant amount of time to reach someone in need of assistance.

Because a hovercraft is a specialized machine, training is required to operate it safely. Libby said that the department has reached out to Neoteric and are coordinating with them to have a representative come and do in-service training.

Libby said that the purchase of a hovercraft probably wouldn’t have been a direction the department went. Before partnering with the Forest Service, the department’s capital plan included acquisition of a boat.

“It’s maybe not something we would have gone for normally, but it will certainly be a huge asset to the community and the marine areas we have,” he said.  “It will take us a bit of time to get trained and comfortable with its operation, especially to function in emergency response, but it certainly will fill a void for us and I’m sure for our neighboring communities as well.”

According to Libby, area departments rely on each other for support, equipment and personnel in any major incident.

“This will just be another tool in that toolbox for all of us to have access to and utilize,” he said.

While they haven’t run the hovercraft yet to see what it can do, Libby said, the previous owner had used it on mud flats. The Windham fire department also reached out to other departments in the country to be sure it would be helpful for emergency response.

“Those agencies we spoke with have found it beneficial as well. We extend our appreciation and thanks to Lee’s Family Trailer for thinking of us, when they came across the piece of equipment, and recognizing that it might be helpful to us and the community,” Libby said. “We certainly appreciate that and their generosity in donating it to us.” <

Maine family seeks help with World War II photographs

U.S. Army Tech Sergeant Richard
Perkins of Maine is shown at
Fort Shafter, Hawaii during
World War II. When Perkins 
died at age 92 in 2014, he left
behind a trove of photos taken
of servicemen that his family
is trying to identify and share
with them. COURTESY PHOTO  

By Ed Pierce

When U.S. Army veteran Richard Perkins of Maine passed away at the age of 92 in 2014, he left behind a treasure trove of hundreds of photos he took while stationed in Hawaii after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Perkins was a radio operator who was stationed at Fort Shafter in Honolulu, and he worked at an underground base inside of Diamond Head. Except for a few brief stories, he never talked much about his service to his family.

While cleaning out his house after he died, his daughter Alice Smith and his son Dana Perkins came across a large tin container full of rolls of film negatives that had been developed, but never converted into photographic prints.

Dana Perkins painstakingly scanned the negatives into his computer and converted them into hundreds of never-before-seen historical photos.

The people in the photos include veterans of the Army, Navy and Marines, as well as USO performers, civilians and children who lived in the area around the Army base of Fort Shafter. 

Alice and Dana have spent the last few years learning as much as possible about the people and locations in the photos. They have received a tremendous amount of help from Milton Migita, a curator at the Army Museum in Hawaii, as well as from the general public through online social media groups.

Their goal is to make all of the photos available to the public by compiling them in a book or through a website. The original negatives, photos, and three photo albums will then be donated to either the Army Museum or the National Park Service in Hawaii.

There are still a lot of people in the photos remaining to be identified. It is Alice and Dana's hope that someone in Maine will recognize their father, grandfather, uncle, mother, grandmother, aunt, or some other friend or relative in the photos. The photos can be viewed online at: www.WW2PacificVeteransProject.org

If you recognize anyone, please contact Alice Smith or Dana Perkins through the website, or by writing to them at: World War 2 Pacific Veterans Project, PO Box 789, Biddeford, ME 04005. <

RSU 14 families show support for remote learning

By Elizabeth Richards

Third-grader Kai Welch of Windham, left, is joined by his 
brother Harbor Welch, as they participate in remote learning
lessons at home offered by RSU 14 teachers. Kai's third-grade
classroom is taught by Jessica Melcher and has 27 students
from both Windham and Raymond.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SKYLAR WELCH 

Remote learning in RSU 14 is set up so that students have a teacher and a classroom community that they engage with daily. As the halfway mark approaches for the 2020-21 school year for the district, families from Jessica Melcher’s classroom shared their perspective on the experiences their children have had in the remote learning format.

Melcher teaches remote students in third grade with academic support from Wendy Bland.  The classroom has 27 students from both Windham and Raymond.

There were many factors that went into the decision to have their children learn remotely, families said.

Amber Carey, who has three school-aged children, said that they opted to go remote out of an abundance of caution and consideration for people in their lives in high-risk categories with whom they wanted to maintain contact.

Skylar Welch said her mother, who is a retired teacher, was providing after school care.

She’s high risk, so wouldn’t have been able to continue if the children were in school, Welch said. 

Now, her mother is helping Welch’s two children, who are in kindergarten and third grade, with their remote learning.

Consistency was another factor for families. Ashley Dorney said she remembered how hard it was to adjust last spring and felt like if her son got used to being at school again and they had to close, it would be harder than being home from the beginning.

“Especially now that there have been more and more cases at the schools, I’m no longer questioning if I made the right choice,” she said.

Jessica Dyer’s family had health considerations, and she also said they knew that there were many students with IEPs and learning differences who truly needed to be in person.

“We wanted to make sure that we left space for those children who did need the one on one,” she said.  “If I kept him home, that allowed one more space for another child to be there.”

Families and students from Melcher’s remote classroom say that the year has gone much better than many of them had anticipated.

Nicole Warner said she was worried after last spring, when her son didn’t do any schoolwork at all after March.  This year has been a much different experience, she said.

“It has been phenomenal,” she said.  “We have had nothing but a great experience thus far.”

Other parents of students who are remote learning agree.

“I have been surprised at how great it’s been going,” Welch said. “While of course I wish my kids were in school, I know that they’re home and they’re safe, they’re healthy. Having that peace of mind has been really important for me as a parent.”

Dyer also went into the year concerned after having issues last spring, including not having access to a computer.  This year, however, everyone was better prepared, and computers and supplies were distributed so they had everything they needed ahead of time, she said.

“It’s been much more organized and more of a steady flow,” she said.

Carey said that Windham Primary School, in particular, has provided a very effective model for remote learners.

“There is structure and consistency, online and offline assignments, comfort and competency with technology, support in every area, both engaging and activity-based options and enrichment opportunities across the board,” she said.

Students in Mrs. Melcher’s class agree. 

Moira Elder emphasized every syllable as she said, “It is a -ma – zing!”  Some of the things she enjoys about remote learning are the consistent schedule, being able to stay home, getting outside more, and being able to play with her cat whenever she wants.

Samantha Carey said remote learning works for her because she has everything she needs, can interact with others, knows what her assignments are, and “it’s really fun.”

Remote learning won’t work for every child and the experience will be different for each child.  And certainly, families said, the teacher can make all the difference. 

Families agreed that Mrs. Melcher is an excellent educator who gives each child the individual attention they need even with the large group.

“This teacher is amazing,” Warner said.  “She knows every single kiddo.  You can just tell she just knows so much about them.”

Dyer concurs.  Her son has faced some big struggles in previous years, she said, and distance learning has separated him from the negativity and allowed him to find his love for school again. Melcher, she said, took the time to get to know him, understand him, how he operates, and his learning style. 

Families said Melcher and other staff use breakout rooms efficiently to allow students to learn at an appropriate level.     

Moira’s mother, Jodi Elder, said that when things aren’t working, staff changes it. For instance, Moira was struggling in math a little, because she simply wasn’t enjoying it.  Now, Moira said, she works with another teacher one day each week, who “has these great, fun ways to do it.  My favorite was when we were doing multiplication in arrays and groups, she did it with angry cats.”

While families said children miss interacting with friends and peers, the remote team works hard to create experiences to allow for socializing. For Mrs. Melcher’s class, there is a Friday “Social Hour” with activities that change each week.

Remote learning, like all of the options this year, has challenges, but for some families, it’s truly the best option. 

“These teachers have had to completely overhaul, practically reinvent, their core practices,” Carey said.  “When we look at what they’ve done, it’s unbelievable to see the efforts that have been made. The kids are engaged, they’re enthusiastic, they’re happy and they’re doing good,” she said.

“Be it in-school or remote, there are educational challenges throughout,” Carey said. “My kiddos need support, and we aren’t acing it all, but we are doing our best. They won’t come away from this experience having not learned anything; they’ll come away having been enriched with new experiences we hope will foster more flexibility, patience, experience, and appreciation for what they have as it carries into the future of their personal educational journeys.”

Welch said, “It’s a great option for people and I think the school is doing an amazing job at adapting to each of the kids, adapting to the changes and still making it work with what they’re given.”

Perhaps the best endorsement comes from the students themselves.  Samantha Carey said she likes remote learning better than “real” school because she gets more support.

"Remote learning is the best choice for right now,” said Moira Elder.  “It’s a great experience for any child who loves home.” <