Set to fly This Sunday, Monarch butterflies will be released at Mark’s Lawn & Garden Page 4A
Tough starts
Inside News
Opening week of the high school fall sports season was a little rough for some teams
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Serving Bridgton and the surrounding towns of Western Maine since 1870. Vol. 147, No. 36
32 PAGES - 4 Sections
Bridgton, Maine
September 8, 2016
(USPS 065-020)
Weather . . . . . . . . . . . 2D
www.bridgton.com
SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS
Consultant: Ask residents what they truly want By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer What is the heart and soul of Bridgton? As the town wades through a variety of issues associated with growth — from updating ordinances to developing a deeper land use guideline to addressing infrastructure improvements (Rec Center to public sewage system) — two questions that should be asked are, “What do folks really want?” and “What do folks really think?” One avenue to initiate a “positive disruptive force” is to follow the Community Heart & Soul program, developed by the Orton Family Foundation. Jane Lafleur, formerly director of Friends of
Midcoast Maine and now at Lift 360 in Portland, recently spoke to Bridgton selectmen about the Heart & Soul approach and whether the town might be interested in either hiring her as a coordinator or coach. “Lyman Orton cares deeply about small towns,” Lafleur said, explaining why he decided to develop Heart & Soul, which is based on the simple premise “guided by what matters most.” Orton started the program when his hometown of Weston, Vt. was rocked by an unexpected proposal — to create an African animal amusement park a few miles north of the village at 2,000 feet on the side of a mounCONSULTANT, Page 2A
PEYTON PAINTIN’ PICKET FENCE white. On Labor Day 2016, 11-year-old Peyton Klein and her family, of Casco, spent time doing yard work that they had not finished this summer. (De Busk Photo)
SAD 61 moves closer to profiency-based learning By Wayne E. Rivet Staff Writer In the near future, students will need to prove they have learned the skills necessary to attend college or enter the workforce before they are handed a diploma. Gone will be the days when a student simply earns a 70 — a passing grade — and moves on. Instead, students will need to prove they can successfully write a well-constructed essay or reach a desired conclusion. Proficiency-based learning is on the horizon, and Lake Region Principal Erik Good is excited about the prospect of all students eventually leaving the school with “cups full (meeting all standards), not empty (not possessing all skills).” Good pointed out that a big reason he decided to apply and accept the principal’s job at Lake Region High School was the opportunity to move the school to
proficiency-based learning. “After a year here, what I found was we are a lot further along than we thought we were,” he said. Good added that while the work is specifically targeting the high school level, the idea of proficiency learning must trickle down to all levels as a K-12 project. SAD 61 is moving closer to switching to a proficiency-based diploma, which the state has mandated to be in effect when the current eighth grade class enters high school. So, what is proficiencybased learning? Good walked the school board through “what it will look like” with a powerpoint presentation — “Full Cups or Empty Cups” — at their Aug. 29 meeting held at Lake Region Middle School. “I get asked that question a lot — how to define it. When talking about it, you might also hear
(Proficiency-based learning) It’s about proving what you have learned,
— Erik Good, LRHS Principal
competency-based (New Hampshire) or masterybased (Rhode Island) learning,” he said. “Proficiencybased learning is teaching, assessing, grading and academic reporting focused on students proving they have
learned the knowledge and skills they are expected to learn as they progress through their education.” While that definition may be somewhat long, Good said the simple approach is “proficiency =
proving.” “It’s about proving what you have learned,” he said, The next question is “why?” One reason schools are shifting to proficiencybased diplomas is that it is the law (all Maine schools must be following proficiency-based diploma by 2021). Secondly, maybe more importantly Good said, is that this system ensures all students meet expectations. So, how will Lake Region H.S. be sure students leave with “full cups?” These “principles,” which schools across the country have been using to be sure students possess necessary skills to be successful in today’s highly competitive and complex world: • Clear learning expectations — making sure that learning expectations are clearly and consistently communicated to students
and families. Expectations are based on standards, and to meet the standard, students must successfully complete performance indicators. • Common standards — same expectations for all students. They have the opportunity to earn the best grade possible, but at least the expectation is the same for everyone. The standard “is spelled out, no surprises.” • Reporting on standards — student progress is determined by measuring and reporting on their proficiency in standards. Lake Region Vocational Center has been working with standards-based since the 1960s, LRVC Director Rosie Shacht said. “All of our standards coming from industry and business. Certifications prescribe what students need to know to earn that certification,” she said. “We’re glad everyone is LEARNING, Page 7A
Budget Committee rolls up sleeves By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer NAPLES — The Naples Budget Committee is gearing up to kick-start regular monthly meetings, now that Labor Day has passed. However, it seems that not all committee members are on board with this game plan. Two people on the seven-person committee would prefer to wait until next spring — the tradition-
al time frame — to participate in the budget process. Additionally, there is one vacant seat on the committee. John Nostin turned in his resignation recently. He cited reasons not related to the concerns of the two other committee members. “In some towns, the budget committee plays a limited role. In other towns, the budget committee plays a very active role. This bud-
get committee wants to have an active role,” Chairman Jim Grattelo said. “We are going to be calling the first budget committee meeting after Labor Day. We are going to set a calendar of meeting dates,” he said. Grattelo said the budget committee will most likely meet on Wednesday in the large meeting room of the Naples Town Hall. However,
it had not yet been determined which Wednesday the group would meet. As of Tuesday evening, there was nothing listed on the municipal calendar. In the coming months, the committee plans to hear presentations by town department heads, local nonprofit groups and outside agencies, according to Grattelo. BUDGET, Page 8A
By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer CASCO — For several weeks during the month of August, a digital speed limit sign was placed where many area residents were likely to see it. The digital sign was set up near Leach Hill Road, which is where the Casco-Naples Transfer Station and Bulky Waste Facility is located. Although it was located within the Casco town boundary lines, the sign is actually the property of the Maine State Police. CASCO CHURCH — celebrating 175 years of worship According to Casco and community service this Sunday starting at 10 a.m. Town Manager, the sign See story on Page 8A. was place there after two or
three property owners, who live off Cooks Mills Road, complained that drivers were exceeding the speed limit, making it difficult to turn onto Route 11 from Cooks Mills Road. While the digital sign on Route 11 is owned by the State Troopers, the Town of Casco does have its own digital speed limit board, Morton said. Residents should not worry that the sign will be sprung on them because it will not be “up and running” until sometime next spring. “We received one from the state, and we ordered a trailer,” Morton said.
“We do request them periodically. We have had them” supplied by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and by the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT), he said. “Now, we’ve acquired one,” he said. The MDOT offered a grant program; and one of
the requirements to receive the digital board was for someone to attend a training, he said. That was completed, and the sign was delivered to the town. However, a trailer is required to move the digital sign from place to place, Morton said. DIGITAL, Page 8A
Casco to launch digital board
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