GARDINER -- On its to-do list for the school year, the School Administrative District 11 Board of Directors will explore the possibility of moving students from T.C. Hamlin School in Randolph and the Pittston Consolidated School into a new building.

The board came up with a work list it wants to tackle during the 2008-09 school year. Atop the list: examining options for the Randolph and Pittston schools, establishing a budget and improving education in grades 6 through 12.

Superintendent Paul Knowles said the SAD 11 board went over the list at its meeting Thursday.

"That's one item that may pique somebody's interest, the discussion of a pre-kindergarten-through-(grade)-five school for Pittston and Randolph," Knowles said Friday. "We need to move forward to replace those schools. Realistically, that's 10 to 12 years down the road. But our intent is to build one school."

He said board members discussed an audit report that examined what is happening in grade-six-through-12 classrooms.

"We surveyed focus groups of teachers, students and parents," Knowles said Friday, "and based on that information, came up with recommendations on what the two schools should look at to improve, but also, what can be done districtwide. There are issues about academic achievement and why weren't our students doing as well as students in other school systems."

Recommendations include:

* Ensure learning experiences are consistent and valued. The report said in some cases there are significant disconnects between how students and teachers view classroom and school experiences.

* Ensure students are engaged daily in meaningful, relevant learning that addresses their interests, needs and learning styles. The report said many students feel their learning experiences are not tailored to their abilities and interest and have no relevance to their futures.

* Ensure students feel safe, accepted and educationally supported. The report said many middle and high school students do not feel as safe as they deserve to be and are wanting to be respected and recognized for their accomplishments.

Other priorities on the board's work list include a study on acquiring and running a bus fleet, a contract with teachers and re-establishing the board's Energy Committee.

Mechele Cooper -- 623-3811, Ext. 408

mcooper@centralmaine.com