BERLIN â The smallest graduating class in school history celebrated the highs and lows of its school years during commencement exercises Friday afternoon. For the second consecutive year, graduation ceremonies were held outside on Gaydo Field in the shadow of Mounts Forist and Jasper.
Class President Kyra Woodward lead the procession in and graduate Nicole Reynolds sang the national anthem.
In his welcoming remarks, Berlin Middle High School Principal Michael Kelley promised to avoid the term âCOVID-19â but noted the Class 2021 had endured both a school reorganization and a pandemic in their final years at high school.
âItâs certainly been a tumultuous two years for the young men and women in front of us,â he said.
BERLIN â The Berlin Board of Education approved a measure last Thursday that would provide an incremental sign-on bonus of $600 for a year-round substitute teaching position, as a way to incentivize potential substitutes to apply for the position.
The approval of the sign-on bonus came after discussion regarding difficulties the school district is having in recruiting and retaining substitute teachers.
Berlin schools Superintendent Julie King said the position was added last year in the hopes of generating more flexibility and preparedness for the staff coverage the district was anticipating due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The position would be for a substitute teacher, but would be year-round in the sense that the substitute would work every school day.
BERLIN â The board of education delivered a much improved financial picture when it had its second budget meeting with the city council Monday night.
Superintendent of Schools Julie King reminded the council that when she presented the districtâs budget back in March it was looking at an increase of $1.29 million in expenditures coupled with a $2.2 million cut in revenues.
At the time she said she expected the budget figures would change and King reported they have changed for the better.
The district is still working to get qualified families to sign up for free and reduced lunch â a factor the state uses to determine education aid. Many did not bother sign up because federal funds this year made the program free for all students.
ANDROSCOGGIN VALLEY â Local school officials were still scrambling Monday to learn more about Gov. Chris Sununu s order that all schools in the state must reopen fully five days a week by April 19.
Both Berlin and Gorham schools operate in a hybrid mode, with a majority of students in-school and some in remote learning.
All were caught off guard by Sununuâs announcement Thursday afternoon. At the Berlin school board meeting Thursday night, Superintendent of Schools Julie King told the board she had heard the order just two hours earlier on television and had immediately emailed N.H. Commissioner of Education Frank Edelblut to get more information.
BERLIN â Presenting the school boardâs proposed 2021-2022 school districtâs budget to the city council Thursday night, Superintendent of Schools Julie King described it as âfluidâ with uncertain state education funding and an ongoing pandemic.
King said the general fund request, including capital improvement items, totals $20.5 million, an increase of $1.29 million or 6.7 percent over the current budget. Anticipated revenues are $11.7 million, down $2.1 million from the current budget.
King said that last year in addition to the state adequacy aid of $10.29 million, the city received a one time state education appropriation of $1.98 million. The city spent $928,622 of that appropriation on the school general fund and capital improvement budget. The remaining approximately $1 million was used to reduce the local school property tax rate, resulting in a $5.28 decrease in the school tax.