Boothbay Region school administrators at last week's school committee meeting reported on new and continuing programs. The board approved the technology plan (see story elsewhere on the education pages).

According to Boothbay Region Elementary School Principal Eileen King, teacher Sharon Barter and guidance counselor Linda Lupton are starting a new program for a quarter of the grade 8 health students to address suicide prevention among teens.

"The program is a first and is supported by a statewide curriculum," said King. She told the board that concerns that studying suicide might increase the possibility it will happen have been disproved by research.

Barter and Lupton have received training for the program, which deals with identifying students in crisis and supporting friends in crisis.

"It's important to be proactive and know what the signs are," said King.

On October 19, BRES will host mid-coast educators for a presentation by speaker John Brown. He will discuss designing unit and lesson plans based on the state standards. Other schools will host other speakers and programs during the in-service day, the first time schools have combined forces in this way.

As she does every year, Special Ed. Director Trish Harrison gave out a chart listing enrollment of special education students for the Boothbay Region schools and the state. As of September, 2001, 20.2 percent (170) of the region's 840 students were identified as having special needs.

The highest percentage, 36 percent, is in fifth grade. The total for both schools in each "exceptionality" is as follows: learning disability, 116; speech and language impairment, 15; emotional disability, 16; mental retardation, 2; other health impairment, 11; multiple disabilities, 8; hearing impairment, 1; autism, 1.

Figures from Dec., 2000, show that 16.7 percent of the total state school population receive special education services.

King gave an overview of IASA (the Improving America's School Act)" programs, which reading lab coordinator Ruth Davison oversees at BRES, and which bring in over $100,000 a year.

"We don't just sit back and open up envelopes with money for these programs," said King, explaining that a plan is put together in the summer for state review and is then changed according to state recommendations.

"It's tightly monitored," she said. "The dollars usually arrive in mid-October."

Boothbay Region High School Assistant Principal Mary Patrick explained that Maine Educational Assessment (MEA) scores can impact the amount of money received. BRHS Principal Jack Tourtillotte said that Patrick will present the scores soon.

"They're interesting and will certainly be worth reviewing," he said.

Most IASA funds are available for Title IA, through which the school runs its reading lab and hires ed. techs. The Eisenhower Professional Development component helps teachers and staff gain additional expertise in science, math and other areas.

A lot of the Title IV (Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act) funds help send students to Camp Kieve, and fund special events for a program through which high schoolers mentor younger children.

Title VI funds, about $1,700 this year, are used to improve libraries and technology in the schools.

School Committee Chairman Kernan Cross agreed to be the head representative from the board for the teacher contract negotiations that began October 17. Larry Colcord and Alex Logan offered to help.

"I feel it's really important that we have a second person there," said Cross, who noted that the Boothbay Region Education Association has always agreed to have an observer at negotiations.

BRES Assistant Principal Mark Tess reported that during Fire Prevention Week local firemen visited classrooms and brought their trucks to the schools for grades K-12 to see.

"The guys do a great job, and the kids have a lot of fun," said King.

Personnel fromBRHS, the Boothbay Region YMCA, and St. Andrews Hospital are joining together to educate students about the hazards of over-the-counter drugs taken to enhance athletic performance. The drugs, which are legal, are "a big problem at several schools in the mid-coast," said Tourtillotte.

The U.S. Coast Guard station at McKown Point donated three, three-year-old, state-of-the-art computers to BRHS, announced Tourtillotte.

Patrick listed the professions that BRHS students are exploring through the mentorship program that matches up students with employers. They include child care, marine studies through the Department of Marine Resources, physical therapy, communications center work, an internship at Sheepscot Machine, independent study in music, and teaching at both BRES and BRHS.

Patrick reported that plagiarism is a real problem in both colleges and high schools. After a presentation to the faculty by BRHS librarian Frances Aley, who provided hints on how to identify plagiarized work, the faculty found several instances just last week.

"We hope this will be beneficial to the youngsters," said Patrick.

Adult Education Director Betty Ryder reported that 16 students are actively working in the learning center, learning skills necessary to take the GED diploma-equivalency exam.

There are 36 enrichment offerings for adults. Interested individuals can now sign up for any of 15 on-line courses in a variety of subjects. Information on all offerings is on the Web at braeonline.org.