From the Superintendent
This is the fifth segment in a series around the 2025-26 strategic priorities. This week, I'll continue last week's theme around the topic of school safety.
At the upcoming Board meeting this Thursday evening, I will be presenting an annual Safety and Security update which can be viewed live or you can watch the recording afterward on the district's YouTube channel. As I described in last week's newsletter, the Centegix Crisis Alert system is our major safety initiative this year, but it is important to point out that this is simply the latest in a layer of critical physical and emotional safety protective factors we have built into place over many years. Below is a research framework related to best practices in the field of school safety, all areas to which MSAD 51 has been working toward in our comprehensive safety and security planning:
Other safety initiatives in 2025-26, in addition to Crisis Alert, include continued evacuation/reunification planning, providing 'stop the bleed' kits in every classroom in the event of an emergency, and coordination with first responders around incident command through table top exercises. Evacuation/reunification planning involves deepening our levels of readiness and response if one or more schools had to quickly exit the campus due to an unforeseen safety event.
As a side note around the safety incident that was communicated out last Thursday evening, it is the intent of MSAD 51 to notify the school community when a significant threat has become known to the schools, even if that threat is no longer credible or viable, as was the case last week. The district's procedure in such instances is to ensure that families and staff are provided multiple avenues for receiving these communications (i.e. phone/voice mail, text, and email) in a timely manner, whenever possible.
Next week will conclude this series on the 2025-26 strategic priorities. In case you missed previous segments in the series, check out the links below:
Summary of Priorities
New State Legislation involving Pre-K
New PK-5 Literacy Curriculum Resource: CKLA
Crisis Alert by Centegix
Regards,
Jeff Porter
Notices from the Office of the Superintendent
Stopfinder - an all-in-one, easy to use app for viewing & sharing your student’s transportation schedule.
MSAD #51 is excited to introduce Stopfinder, a new parent app designed to provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date information about your student's bus schedule.
With Stopfinder, you can:
- View your student's daily transportation assignments.
- Securely share your student's schedule with caregivers.
- Receive notifications and updates related to transportation.
- Receive real-time bus location notifications based on GeoAlert regions you create for your student.
Many thanks to the 1,400 participants who have already signed up to use this app.
For more information follow the provided link: https://www.msad51.org/apps/pages/Stopfinder
Next Week!
The deadline is quickly approaching. Don't miss your chance to submit your ideas on what our new school should be named!
Did you know that anyone can make a name suggestion?
We want to hear from you. What should we name this new school? Enter or submit your suggestions by the end of the month for a chance at your suggestion being brought to the Board of Directors.
Not sure how to submit a suggestion?
We've made it easy - here is the simple step process:
Signature Pages
Pick up a signature page at the District Office OR download and print one at home. All you need is 10 signatures from either community or staff members. Once completed, there are three ways to submit -
1. 
Mail your submission to:
MSAD #51
Attn: Melissa Porter
PO Box 6A
Cumberland, ME 04021
2. 
Drop it off in person at:
MSAD #51 District Office
357 Tuttle Road, Cumberland ME 04021
Hours: Mon- Fri; 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
3. 
Digital Form Submission (no printing required)
Name Suggestion Google Form
📧 [email protected]
CONTACT FOR QUESTIONS
If you have any questions or need assistance, please reach out to:
Melissa Porter
Phone: 207-829-4800 ext. 1
Email: [email protected]
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING YOUR IDEAS!
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MSAD #51 Board of Directors Information
All meetings will take place at 6:00 pm in the Gyger Room at Greely High School. For those of you unfamiliar with that room, the Gyger Room can be accessed from the GHS parking lot (the side without the electronic sign).
October 23- Regular Meeting
Remember you can watch our meetings on YouTube LIVE (http://bit.ly/msad51livevideo)
Links
Meeting Dates, Agendas & Minutes
Board of Directors Meeting Videos
Useful Links
Greely Center for the Arts Events
If you would like something included in our weekly newsletter, please send a brief write up with title along with a JPEG or PNG image of your flyer (if applicable) to Melissa Porter for approval. The deadline each week is Wednesday. Any requests received after Wednesday will be reviewed for possible submission in the following week's newsletter. All approved submissions will be posted on the district's website.
Not all items in this email are MSAD #51 sponsored programs. If you need more information, please contact the group or organization that is sponsoring the event.
357 Tuttle Road, PO Box 6A, Cumberland, ME 04021
Contact Us | 207.829.4800