SCARBOROUGH — In addition to increasing the school day by 25 minutes, the Scarborough School Department is also welcoming several new faces into administrative and teaching positions for the new school year.

Dean Auriemma will take over as principal of the high school. Auriemma was previously the principal of several schools in the Chicago area.

“He’s very perceptive. He brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm,” Superintendent David Doyle said.

Doyle said he expects the School Board to approve the hiring committee’s recommendation of John Thurlow as the principal of Blue Point School. Thurlow is a long-time resident of Scarborough and has been a computer specialist and educator for the South Portland School Department for 20 years.

Mike LeGage was recently appointed as the athletic and co-curricular director. LeGage was previously an educator in School Administrative District 6 and the director of Camp Ketcha.

Tim Walker will take on the role of director of guidance for the high school. Walker was previously the director of guidance for the Westbrook School Department.

Due to budget cuts, the district is not hiring many new teachers this summer, Doyle said. However, there are still a few open teaching positions to fill before school starts on Aug. 31.

Doyle said he hired a new math and science teacher, Nate Guerin, for the high school.

“This year there will be less art and music, particularly at grades 2 and 3,” Doyle said.

Class sizes, particularly at Wentworth and the middle school will be larger this year and there will be no foreign language classes for sixth-graders.

Two bus driver positions were eliminated, which will mean slightly longer bus runs for some students. Doyle said students furthest from the school will see the largest impact in bus schedules.

In addition, the district will begin charging fees for middle and high school students to participate in athletics and extra-curricular activities.

“We’ve worked out the process. Information went home to all the high school students,” Doyle said. “The middle school students will be getting something soon.”

He said the School Board is considering a possible flat-rate fee for middle school students to participate in as many activities as they want, similar to the $300 flat fee offered for high school students.

On Aug. 25 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. there will be a sign-up night for fall athletics in the high school cafeteria and fees can be paid at that time. Many high school fall sports begin practices before school begins, and some have already started. Middle school sports begin after school has started, and sign-ups will be held early in the school year.

Grades 3, 6 and 9 all begin school on Aug. 31. All other grades begin on Sept. 1.

High school classes now begin at 7:40 a.m. and end at 2:05 p.m.

The middle school day begins at 7:45 a.m. and ends at 2:10 p.m. Wentworth school starts at 8:20 a.m. and ends at 2:45 p.m. and the elementary schools begin at 8:50 a.m. and end at 3:15 p.m.

Emily Parkhurst can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 125 or eparkhurst@theforecaster.net

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