Academic Audit Message

Message from the MSAD #11 School Board

The Academic Audit process was originally conceived in 2006 to examine the strengths and weaknesses of the educational experience we provide to our children in Grades 6 through 12, and recommend areas in need of improvement.

After 18 months of study, the Academic Audit Committee presented it's Final Report to the MSAD 11 School Board on steps that need to be taken to improve education in MSAD 11 (a copy of the entire report can be found on the MSAD 11 School Board website).

Three major areas of focus for moving forward will be to:
1. Ensure consistency from grade to grade and school to school, and increase student engagement;
2. Make school more relevant to student's interests and abilities, and;
3. Make changes to promote student safety, recognition, and respectful behavior.

The School Board voted to create an Academic Audit Advisory Committee on February 19, 2008. to oversee implementation of the recommendations contained in the Academic Audit Report.

The key to success going forward will be to have all of us working together: Teachers, Administration, Parents, Students, Community and Board Members. Teachers and Administration have already gathered input from Students, and met during the month of March to begin crafting action plans to address the issues that were identified in the Report. The enthusiasm this process has created has been amazing to watch at both the High School and Middle School. We should all be grateful for the hard work our teachers have put into this, and the exemplary leadership shown by Art Warren and Chad Kempton.

We hope to hold a Community Forum in the near future to fully involve parents , business leaders and community members in helping us in this important effort. As the Audit Report states, "These problems will be much easier to solve if we can increase parent and community involvement in our schools. When we reach
out to you for help, we hope you will be there for us."