PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MINUTES WILL NOT BE FINAL UNTIL
THE BOARD HAS APPROVED THEM AT ITS NEXT MEETING.
September 14, 2006
The Board of Directors of Maine School Administrative
District No. 75 held a regular meeting
at Bowdoin Central School on
Thursday, September 14, 2006.
The following Directors were present: Robert W. Hill, Chairman; Maryane Burns; Dorothy “Dee” Carrier; Marie Dickson; Dorothy Gardner; David A. Johnson; Jane Meisenbach; Andrea Najarian; Joanne Rogers; Donald A. Russell; Rebekah Stimpson; Kim Totten; and Roland Tufts.
Not present was Gwen Thomas.
Also present was Sara Todd, student representative to the Board of Directors.
Not present were
1. Call to order
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Hill at 6:30 p.m.
2. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was recited by those present.
3. To
consider action relative to additions or adjustments to the agenda and to ask
for comments from the audience
Agenda adjustments were noted as listed below and integrated appropriately into the agenda.
(add)
6.7a To increase the contract of Karen Erdmann, Bowdoin Central School Title I teacher, from .5 FTE to .75 FTE
6.7b To accept the resignation of Michele McCarthy, District Accountant, effective October 11, 2006
6.8 Executive session – This item will be taken before New Business.
3.1 RECOGNITIONS AND
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
√ Welcome to
√ Commendation – to all staff on an excellent start to the school year
4. To
take action relative to accepting as printed the minutes of the August 10,
2006, and August 23, 2006, regular meetings of the Board of Directors
It was moved by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mrs. Gardner, and VOTED (857 yeas, 0 nays, 77 abstentions, and 66 absent) to accept as printed the minutes of the August 10, 2006, regular meeting of the Board of Directors.
Voting yea were Ms. Burns, Mrs. Carrier, Ms. Dickson, Mrs. Gardner, Mr. Hill, Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Meisenbach, Ms. Najarian, Mrs. Rogers, Mr. Russell, Ms. Stimpson and Mrs. Totten.
There were no nay votes.
Abstaining from voting was Mr. Tufts.
Absent was Ms. Thomas.
It was moved by Mrs. Carrier, seconded by Mr. Johnson, and VOTED (867 yeas, 0 nays, 67 abstentions, and 66 absent) to accept as printed the minutes of the August 23, 2006, regular meeting of the Board of Directors.
Voting yea were Ms. Burns, Mrs. Carrier, Ms. Dickson, Mrs. Gardner, Mr. Hill, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Najarian, Mrs. Rogers, Mr. Russell, Ms. Stimpson, Mrs. Totten and Mr. Tufts.
There were no nay votes.
Abstaining from voting was Mrs. Meisenbach.
Absent was Ms. Thomas.
5. OLD BUSINESS:
6.8 To enter executive session to discuss the Harpswell Withdrawal Proposal, pursuant to 1 M.R.S.A. Section 405 (6) (C) disposition of school property and 405 (6) (E) consultation between a school unit and attorney
At 6:35 p.m. it was moved by Mrs. Rogers, seconded by Ms. Najarian, and VOTED (867 yeas, 0 nays, 67 abstentions, and 66 absent) to enter executive session to discuss the Harpswell Withdrawal Proposal, pursuant to 1 M.R.S.A. Section 405 (6) (C) disposition of school property and 405 (6) (E) consultation between a school unit and attorney. It was requested that the District’s attorney, Peter Lowe, remain in the executive session.
Voting yea were Ms. Burns, Ms. Dickson, Mrs. Gardner, Mr. Hill, Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Meisenbach, Ms. Najarian, Mrs. Rogers, Mr. Russell, Ms. Stimpson, Mrs. Totten, and Mr. Tufts.
There were no nay votes.
Abstaining from voting was Mrs. Carrier, who excused herself from the executive session.
Absent was Ms. Thomas.
The executive session ended at 7:15 p.m.
Mrs. Rogers read into the recording the following “recommended response by S.A.D. No. 75 Withdrawal Negotiations Committee to Harpswell’s September 1, 2006 letter.”
1. We
are prepared to meet with the Harpswell Withdrawal Committee to resume
negotiations with the aid of the mediators.
At the request of S.A.D. No. 75,
and with the support of the Harpswell Withdrawal Committee, the Commissioner of
Education appointed mediators. We
believe that the parties should respect the Commissioner’s decision and engage
in mediated negotiations.
2. The
involvement of mediators is essential because the Harpswell Withdrawal Committee’s
latest proposal contains financial terms that if accepted would be crippling to
the
3. We
have contacted the Commissioner to inquire whether she has selected the second
mediator, and as soon as this appointment is made, we propose that a mutually
convenient date be set for our first session.
4. The
Commissioner stated with great clarity that both sides need to complete the
hard work of negotiating a comprehensive withdrawal agreement and that her role
is limited to approving the agreement, not dictating the terms. The District has always believed this to be
the case. Therefore, we disagree with
your suggestion that Harpswell need only make proposals to the Commissioner on
the matters that relate just to Harpswell.
Because these issues relate to the future education of District students
residing in Harpswell, the District has a duty to discuss and negotiate these
items.
5. We
believe that the Harpswell Withdrawal Committee should present a comprehensive
written proposal for a withdrawal agreement that addresses all the requirements
of Maine law, including a detailed proposal on how Harpswell would operate the
two elementary schools in Harpswell. The
new information the District has received is only an outline.
6. The
draft budget for a future Harpswell School Department contains many financial assumptions
and the negotiations eventually must focus on these assumptions so that
concrete numbers are developed. For
example, no agreement has been reached on a tuition rate for Harpswell
students; and this number will have a major impact on both the Harpswell and
S.A.D. No. 75 budgets.
7. It
is critical that the financial impact to S.A.D. No. 75 of the withdrawal
proposal be fully analyzed, and we anticipate presenting this information when
the analysis has been completed. Because
the Harpswell Withdrawal Committee’s latest proposal requires S.A.D. No. 75 to
compensate Harpswell almost $7 million at the time of withdrawal, it would
appear that the drafters failed to consider the potentially devastating impact
such an arrangement would have on the District’s ability to provide educational
services to students, including Harpswell students who would be attending
District schools through their proposed tuition agreement.
It was moved by Mr. Russell, seconded by Mrs. Gardner, and VOTED (867 yeas, 0 nays, 67 abstentions, and 66 absent) to support as presented to the Board the proposed response by S.A.D. No. 75 Withdrawal Negotiations Committee to Harpswell’s September 1, 2006 letter.
Voting yea were Ms. Burns, Ms. Dickson, Mrs. Gardner, Mr. Hill, Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Meisenbach, Ms. Najarian, Mrs. Rogers, Mr. Russell, Ms. Stimpson, Mrs. Totten and Mr. Tufts.
There were no nay votes.
Abstaining from voting was Mrs. Carrier.
Absent was Ms. Thomas.
6. NEW BUSINESS:
6.1
To accept Matthew Meyer, Grade 10, as a tuition
student at
Action on Item 6.1 was tabled until the next meeting.
6.2 To
accept Cassandra LaChance, Grade 10, as a tuition
student at
It was moved by Mr. Johnson,
seconded by Mrs. Gardner, and VOTED
(unanimously) to accept Cassandra LaChance, Grade
10, as a tuition student at
6.3 To consider changes in Board sub-committee membership
Board members were asked to submit their sub-committee preferences as soon as possible so that a new list may be generated.
6.4 To elect a Finance Committee for the 2006-2007 year
Board members caucused by towns.
As Vice-Chair of the Board, Mrs. Totten will serve as Chair of the Finance Committee and represent Bowdoin.
Mr. Johnson nominated Mrs. Carrier to serve as Harpswell’s representative to the Finance Committee.
Ms. Stimpson nominated Ms. Najarian to serve as Bowdoinham’s representative to the Finance Committee.
Ms. Burns nominated Mr. Tufts to serve as Topsham’s representative to the Finance Committee.
Ms. Najarian nominated Ms. Burns to serve as the at-large representative to the Finance Committee.
It was moved by Mrs. Rogers, seconded by Mrs. Gardner, and VOTED (unanimously) to move the slate, electing Mrs. Carrier, Ms. Najarian, Mr. Tufts and Ms. Burns to the Finance Committee for the 2006-2007 year, in addition to Mrs. Totten.
6.5 To hear a report on the status of the Maine Safety Works Inspection
Facilities Director Chris Shaw presented this report. He related that in 2006 the District had requested Maine Safety Works perform a safety consultation visit of all District buildings This inspection was done on January 18, 2006; and the District received its report in March 2006.
Of 159 items identified as issues, corrective action has been completed on 71% of those. 6% have interim measures in place until permanent solutions can be implemented, bringing the total of resolved items to 77%. The remaining 23% can be considered a “work in progress,” consisting of administrative, items pending receipt of parts, with the remainder of the repairs being pending.
Mr. Shaw can make the final report available to any Board member who wishes it. He indicated that the District will continue to work to close out remaining items.
6.6 To hear a report on the Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights
Superintendent Wilhelm attended an informational meeting on TABOR on September 7th and shared with the Board much of the material presented.
His report was accompanied by the PowerPoint presentation used at that meeting and prepared by Drummond Woodsum for Maine School Management Association. He outlined the intended purpose of TABOR, its limitations on state and local expenditures, noting problems with calculations, coupled with declining enrollments. Had TABOR been in effect this year, the District would have had $2 million less money.
M.S.A.D. No. 75 is a high-subsidy receiver, and financial problems for schools are most severe for those in that category.
Superintendent Wilhelm suggested bringing to the September 28th Board meeting the resolution stating the Board’s opposition to TABOR. Chairman Hill asked if all Board members were comfortable with the wording of that resolution.
6.7 To transfer the following positions and revise the corresponding salary and benefits budget accounts for FY 06-07 as follows:
Ed Tech III (6 hr/185 days) from middle school to high school, salary budget $16,050
Ed Tech III (6 hr/185 days) from middle school to high school, salary budget $14,874
Ed Tech I (6 hr/185 days) from middle school to high school, salary budget $13,354
Ed Tech I (3 hr/185 days) from
Mrs. Carrier asked why the need for these revisions wasn’t recognized earlier. Business Manager Ron Lavender acknowledged that the need should have been highlighted before now.
It was moved by Mrs. Rogers, seconded by Mrs. Gardner, and VOTED (unanimously) to transfer the following positions and revise the corresponding salary and benefits budget accounts for FY 06-07 as follows:
Ed Tech III (6 hr/185 days) from middle school to high school, salary budget $16,050
Ed Tech III (6 hr/185 days) from middle school to high school, salary budget $14,874
Ed Tech I (6 hr/185 days) from middle school to high school, salary budget $13,354
Ed Tech I (3 hr/185 days) from Woodside Elementary School to West Harpswell School, salary budget $6,677
6.7a To increase the contract of Karen Erdmann, Bowdoin Central School Title I teacher, from .5 FTE to .75 FTE
It was moved by Mrs. Rogers, seconded by Mr. Johnson, and VOTED (unanimously) to increase the contract of Karen Erdmann, Bowdoin Central School Title I teacher, from .5 FTE to .75 FTE.
6.7b To accept the resignation of Michele McCarthy, District Accountant, effective October 11, 2006
Superintendent Wilhelm noted that Ms. McCarthy is considerably reducing her commute by taking a position closer to her home and that she has done a wonderful job for us.
Business Manager Ron Lavender commented that in her new position with CDS, Ms. McCarthy will be expanding the use of her talents. Mr. Lavender stated that she has been the District’s accountant since 1997 and is the right person for the job. He credited the District’s successful audit reports to her work. The District wishes her well.
It was moved by Mrs. Rogers, seconded by Mr. Johnson, and VOTED (unanimously) to accept the resignation of Michele McCarthy, District Accountant, effective October 11, 2006.
6.8 To enter executive session to discuss the Harpswell Withdrawal Proposal, pursuant to 1 M.R.S.A. Section 405(6)(C) disposition of school property and 405 (6)(E) consultation between a school unit and attorney
This item was addressed earlier in the agenda.
7. COMMITTEE REPORTS:
7.1 M.S.A.D. No. 75 Withdrawal Committee – This item had been addressed previously.
7.2 Board Policy Committee – Ms. Burns reported that the Policy Committee met prior to this evening’s Board meeting. The Board will be asked to consider a first reading of a Code of Ethics for Board members at the September 28, 2006, meeting.
8. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT:
8.1 Financial report – Business Manager Ron Lavender presented this report.
8.2 Attendees at MSSA Fall Conference – Board members are invited to attend this Conference.
8.3 501(c)(3) – Superintendent Wilhelm announced that the following will serve as community members on the 501(c) (3) Education Foundation:
Bob Davis – Harpswell
Dory Streett – Bowdoinham
Cathy Thibeault – Bowdoin
Susan Tufts – Topsham
A meeting will be scheduled toward the end of the month.
8.4 Newsletters – Superintendent Wilhelm had provided copies of the last two newsletters which went to employees. He will continue this practice.
8.5 Enrollment report – Opening day enrollments were shared with the Board. Superintendent Wilhelm noted that it appears school enrollments are down about 3%.
8.5 U.S. Department of Education letter of intent – To comply with a September 1st deadline, Superintendent Wilhelm forwarded to the U.S. Department of Education a letter expressing the Board’s interest in acquiring some of the property available upon closure of B.N.A.S.
8.6
Miscellaneous
– Ms. Dickson asked Superintendent Wilhelm has heard whether the high
school construction project has been moved up on the State’s priority
list. Dr. Wilhelm noted that movement
upward on the list is contingent on the possible failure of referendum in one
or more of the communities whose projects ranked higher than the
9.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
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