Mike Bernier teaches English on Tuesday at Lewiston High School. Bernier says he and other teachers have been discouraged by the school’s changing grading policies. Several teachers asked the Lewiston School Committee on Monday night to change a policy adopted in May that has resulted in more than half of the school’s students failing at least one class. The School Committee voted 5-4 on Monday to change the policy. (Sun Journal photo by Andree Kehn)

LEWISTON — Longtime teacher Mike Bernier told the Lewiston School Committee on Monday night he and other teachers are feeling discouraged.

“I share the sentiments of many of my colleagues that we go home feeling like we haven’t been accomplishing our jobs,” Bernier said. “A big part that is the grading system.”

Bernier, who will turn 60 this year, has been teaching 31 years at Lewiston High School.

“The thought of retiring never occurred to me until the last couple of years dealing with paperwork upon paperwork,” he said.

Bernier spoke against a grading policy, which the School Committee decided to change in a 5-4 vote Monday night.

The old policy, adopted in May and began this fall, stipulated high school students must earn a grade of 76 in every “standard,” or expectation, in every class. Under that policy, a student who received a 75 in just one standard would not get credit.

As a result, 833 students — more than half the school’s enrollment — were failing at least one class even though their course average was 76 or higher, according to Principal Jake Langlais, who recommended the policy be changed.

The School Committee voted to support Langlais’ recommendation and tweak the policy. Now to receive credit, students must get an average of 76 in a course’s standards.

Before the vote, Superintendent Bill Webster apologized several times for a variety of actions around the grading policy, including that it has changed every year for the past five.

After looking at what other high schools have done, Webster said Monday it appeared what Lewiston High was asking of students was among the toughest in Maine — at a school that continues to have among the lowest graduation rates in the state.

Webster said the grading policy had “the highest passing course threshold in the state of Maine.”

Webster apologized for telling the School Committee last year standards could be raised and the school could provide the necessary support to students. He said he now knows the school cannot provide the kind of support needed for students to reach 76 in every standard.

“I apologize to this School Committee for not asking the right questions or listening sufficiently to concerns last spring,” Webster said. “I apologize for promising what we may be incapable of providing,” enough student support for students.

“Where do we go from here?” he said.

In recommending the change that was ultimately adopted, Webster said the grading changes at the high school have their roots in the proficiency-based learning diploma that state lawmakers passed, then repealed.

“Over the last several years, the state has passed, amended and eventually repealed PBL,” Webster said.

Meanwhile, there was little if any help from the Maine Department of Education, and the department went through a string of commissioners under the LePage administration.

“This lack of consistent direction from the state has led to stress and conflict” in districts across Maine, Webster said.

Teachers Donna Olson, Samantha Garnett Sias, Rachel Nadeau and Dan Gish all requested a grading policy that stipulated students earned passing grades if they scored an average of 76 or better in standards instead of a 76 in every standard.

Gish said the grading policy “needs to be consistent.”

Several committee members disagreed with any grading change.

Committee member Monique Roy said it might have been too soon for any change, and that students need more help to get where they need to be.

“I don’t know if we have a real grasp” on the situation, she said.

Committee member Luke Jensen disagreed, saying even with the latest grading change, the district is keeping 76 as a passing grade, instead of the old 70.

“That is still raising the bar,” Jensen said, adding the change was needed because “too much is being asked of students.”

Those voting to change the grading policy: Jensen, Mark Cayer, Francis Gagnon, Alicia Rea and Megan Parks.

Those who opposed the change: Roy, Renee Courtemanche, Tanya Whitlow and Hutchinson.