Training Session Set for Sport Done Right Pilot Site Teams

March 17, 2005 Archives

Contact: Kay Hyatt, (207) 581-2761

ORONO, Maine — Leadership teams from the 12 Sports Done Right pilot sites will gather March 22 at the University of Maine for a training session focusing on engaging communities in defining and promoting healthy interscholastic sports at their high schools and middle schools. The meeting runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Buchanan Alumni House. Media are welcome to attend the meeting and to have lunch with participants.

The federally funded UMaine initiative, which got underway in October 2003, led to the creation and publication of Sports Done Right: A Call to Action on Behalf of Maine’s Student-Athletes. Crafted by a statewide Select Panel, the report makes recommendations for shaping the best possible learning environment for student-athletes.

As part of the pilot site agreement, superintendents are responsible for forming school-community leadership teams. The teams will receive training, beginning Tuesday, on convening and facilitating community forums using Sports Done Right as a guiding document to initiate conversations about sports and the experiences of student-athletes.

Complete agendas will be available at the March 22 session. Tentatively, the day’s activities include:

9 a.m. Welcome; overview and introductions.
9:15 a.m. Individual activity: Connecting to the project; team member concerns.
9:45 a.m. What Lies Ahead? Expectations for the pilot sites.
10 a.m. Sports Done Right Jigsaw; developing clarity about sports philosophy and
community needs.
11 a.m. Large group discussion: “Pushback” — what you might expect from the
community.
11:15 a.m. Team activity: Getting started on an action plan.
12 p.m. Lunch; presentation on communication.
12:45 p.m. Paired team activities: Launching your project.
1:45 p.m. Wrap-up/timeline for submitting action plans.

The 12 sites were selected from a total of 25 applicants based on geographic distribution; community and school size; expressed commitment and need; and potential for broad community involvement in the initiative. The pilot sites are:

  • Augusta School Department

  • Brewer School Department

  • Lewiston/Auburn School Departments — one collaborative site

  • Portland Public Schools

  • Winthrop Public Schools and Winthrop Recreation Department

  • SAD 5 (Rockland, Owl’s Head, South Thomaston)

  • SAD 29 (Hammond, Houlton, Littleton, Monticello)

  • SAD 32 (Ashland, Garland Plantation, Masardis, Oxbow Plantation, Portage Lake)

  • SAD 35 (Eliot, South Berwick)

  • SAD 51 (Cumberland, Chebeague Island, North Yarmouth)

  • SAD 71 (Kennebunk, Kennebunkport)

  • School Union 29 (Mechanic Falls, Minot, Poland)