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Raymond is not the only school district struggling with preparations for the future as the millennium nears. With recent administrative changes, and with controversy surrounding construction and renovation that will culminate in a November 4th referendum, it only feels that way.

On July 1, David Bois, former superintendent/principal, passed his principal's reins to Norma Richard. Bois, who stays as part-time superintendent explains: "The driving force behind the change was the fact that this school (Jordan-Small) had reached the point where a full-time principal was needed on a regular basis without having to go to Augusta to talk about construction funds and things like that. As superintendent, I will be able to focus on issues dealing with the EPA, the DEP, sewer systems, oil tanks, tuition negotiations, busing problems and the like. The school needs a full-time principal who's able to focus without having to deal with outside distractions."

And Norma Richard, Raymond school district's new principal is focusing -- personally, and professionally. Already, she has bought and moved into a house in Raymond, with her sheltie and three cats. "I want to be involved in the community and to be accepted," she says, "I want to make this my home."

	Professionally, Richard's credentials are impressive. She received her B.S. in Child Development from University of Maine, her Masters in Educational Administration from University of Southern Maine, and she is currently enrolled in the "Advanced Studies in School Administration" program at University of Maine. Richard has taught in grades two through eight, and she comes to Raymond from Penobscot where she was grade K through eight principal.

Feeling she was outgrowing her Penobscot position, Richard researched other possibilities. Several good opportunities developed, but she decided on Raymond because she found Jordan-Small comfortable, inviting, and active. "And I did my homework," she says, "the district, David Bois, the professional staff, and the community came out with flying colors. I was quite impressed that the school is an integral part of the community; selectmen hold their meetings here, they have senior citizens' dinners here. There's a tie between the children and adults and what happens in the community. All those things influenced my decision to come here."

Richard intends to be a hands-on principal. She says, "My strengths lie in supporting teachers, advocating for children, and being that liaison with parents. The professional staff will probably see me heavily involved in their classrooms. My expectation is to support what's happening at the classroom level."

That will allow Bois to focus on problems associated with overcrowding, a brief history of which goes like this

• 1989: Raymond Middle School Study Committee was formed and charged with determining what to do about Raymond's yearly 12 to 14 percent increase in students. Jordan-Small School, with grades K through six, Raymond's only school, was already crowded, and middle schools in towns (principally Windham, Westbrook and Gray) where Raymond tuitions-out middle school students were also facing overcrowding. The committee came up with alternatives ranging from "business as usual," to opening the school year 'round, to new school construction. Expanding Jordan-Small was not an option due to insufficient on-site space. The time seemed right for establishment of Raymond's own K through eight facilities, and the town voted to approve a school construction study.
• 1993: Elementary School Building Committee was created and application was made to the state for financial assistance in construction.
• 1994: Raymond received approval from the state and was put on a priority list for "concept approval" in 1997.
• 1995: Middle School Development Committee was formed and has been working closely with the Elementary School Building Committee on a plan involving school construction for grades K through four, and conversion of Jordan-Small from its current K through six to grades five through eight, thereby eliminating elementary school overcrowding and the need to find "tuition" space in other towns for middle school students.

So far, the state has approved the building site, located across Route 85 from Jordan-Small, although the DEP and EPA will be involved in site planning. On September 3, the state will act on Raymond's request and, if approved (no problems are anticipated), a referendum will be placed the November 4th ballot. Referendum wording has not been decided, but it will ask residents for approval of local funds for alterations to Jordan-Small School, and funding, to include state aid, for elementary school construction.

Other school districts, particularly Windham, Westbrook and Gray will be affected by whatever Raymond does, because, as Bois puts it, "Right now they are caught in the middle. Our tuition money is a significant part of their budget, but by the same token they have space problems. When classrooms are getting close to having 30 students and parents find out there are kids from other towns taking up seats, there are problems."

While Raymond's superintendent/principal issue is being resolved smoothly, the overcrowding/construction/renovation issue continues and will be magnified in the fall. Controversy will center around construction costs and taxes, but other factors, such as quality of education, extracurricular activities, and effects on other area school districts will be in the mix. The Suburban News will publish an article dealing with these issues between the September 3rd state approval and the November 4th referendum.