PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MINUTES WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FINAL UNTIL THE RPC HAS APPROVED THEM AT ITS NEXT MEETING.

{Printed copies are duplex printed on both sides of the paper.}

 

LISBON/M.S.A.D. NO. 75

REORGANIZATION PLANNING COMMITTEE (RPC)

 

January 30, 2008

 

The Lisbon/M.S.A.D. No. 75 Reorganization Planning Committee met at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 30, 2008, at Mt. Ararat Middle School in Topsham, Maine.

 

Committee members present were:  (from Bowdoin) Leroy Letourneau, Kim Totten; (from Bowdoinham) Kim Benjamin, Dan Billings and Joanne Reinhart; (from Harpswell) James Henderson, Elinor “Ellie” Multer and Joanne Rogers; (from Topsham) Stephen Harris; Robert Hill and James Trusiani; and (from Lisbon) Gina Mason, Martha Poliquin and Charles Smith.

 

Not present were Tim Lavan, Prudence “Prudy” Grant and student representatives Cam Bubar and Sam Prindall.

 

Also present were Superintendents J. Michael Wilhelm (M.S.A.D. No. 75) and Shannon Welsh (Union 30).

 

Business Managers Ron Lavender (M.S.A.D. No. 75) and Catherine Messmer (Union 30) were also present.

 

Donna Frisoli of Harpswell Channel 14 TV was present to record this evening’s meeting.

 

The meeting was moderated and facilitated by Jay Bartner.

 

A.        Call to order

 

The meeting was called to order by Co-chair Bob Hill at 6:30 p.m.

 

B.        Approval of minutes of the January 16, 2008, RPC meeting

 

Ms. Multer noted that the motion on acceptance of the minutes of the January 2, 2008, meeting should have read “…approve as amended.”

 

Ms. Poliquin stated that (page 3, first sentence) it had been Mrs. Totten who commented that Georgetown knows that if Georgetown comes into the RSU, it would enter it with acceptance of decisions already made.

 

It was moved by Mr.  Trusiani, seconded by Mr. Harris, and VOTED (11 yeas, 0 nays, 1 abstention and 3 absent) to accept as corrected the minutes of the January 16, 2008, RPC meeting.

 

 

 

Page 2 – Minutes – RPC meeting – January 30, 2008

Voting yea were Mr. Letourneau, Mrs. Totten, Ms. Benjamin, Mrs. Reinhart, Mr. Henderson, Ms. Multer, Mrs. Rogers, Mr. Harris, Mr. Hill, Mr. Trusiani and Ms. Poliquin.

 

There were no nay votes.

 

Abstaining from voting was Mr. Billings.

 

Absent were Mr. Lavan, Ms. Grant and Mr. Smith (who had not yet arrived).

 

C.        Public comment

 

There was no public comment.

 

D.        RPC vote on recommendations

 

Governance – There were no recommendations from the January 16th meeting of the Governance Sub-committee.

Financial – Ms. Multer suggested that rather than “hammering out” a cost-sharing formula recommendation within the sub-committee, the Financial sub-committee assemble necessary data and that the decision be made by the full RPC.

 

Both co-chairs are in agreement with this suggestion.

 

Ms. Poliquin announced that a good portion of the next RPC meeting will be dedicated to making this decision.

 

Mr. Billings commented that this suggestion makes sense.

 

Mr. Trusiani stated this is a force to be dealt with before the public hearings on the Plan’s approval.

 

Mr. Henderson asked if the necessary information (to fully discuss cost-sharing) has been defined and if someone has been designated to gather it.

 

Mr. Hill stated that the Financial Sub-committee will work on this during tonight’s sub-committee breakout.

 

Employees & Bargaining – Mr. Harris thanked Mr. Bartner for obtaining the 4,500 student staffing model.  He expressed concerns about “cost shifting” to the taxpayers anticipated to be deployed by the State, feeling this will make it difficult to pass the budget.

 

E.        Report on Georgetown proposal

 

Mr. Hill reported that the Georgetown School Committee had voted to join the Lisbon/M.S.A.D. No. 75 RSU.

 

Page 3 – Minutes – RPC meeting – January 30, 2008

Mrs. Totten reported that at its January 24th regular meeting, the M.S.A.D. No. 75 Board denied Georgetown’s request to join this RSU, stating that Board members were concerned about the “unknowns,” among which was the fact that Georgetown would receive its special education funding whereas Harpswell does not.  Mrs. Totten said it’s very evident that Georgetown is passionate about their schools and wants to do what is best educationally for their children.

 

Union 30 Superintendent Shannon Welsh had reported this to the Lisbon Board and in recognition of the good relationship they enjoy with M.S.A.D. No. 75, the Lisbon Board didn’t take it up for discussion.

 

M.S.A.D. No. 75 Superintendent Michael Wilhelm reported that Georgetown’s counsel had expressed to him appreciation for the efforts extended and the degree to which the issue had been debated.

 

F.        Sub-committee breakout

 

It was announced that this evening’s sub-committee breakout would be from 6:30-8:15 p.m.

 

Mr. Smith arrived at 6:50 p.m.

 

G.        Sub-committee reports

 

Governance – Mrs. Rogers distributed copies of an “upcoming events” schedule, which the RPC is being asked to vote to adopt.

 

Hopefully, printed informational materials will be ready for distribution at the February 27th meeting of the RPC.

 

At the March 12th meeting the RPC should be ready to proceed with public hearings on the 15th – one at 10:00 in Lisbon and one at 1:00 in Topsham (location of meetings to be determined).

 

The RPC will meet at 3:00 p.m. on the 15th to discuss any questions/concerns arising from the two public hearings held that day.  Another meeting of the RPC will be held on March 26th, if needed.

 

It was moved by Mr. Letourneau and seconded by Mr. Smith to approve the presented schedule of upcoming events.

 

Ms. Multer stated she’s not happy with holding an RPC meeting immediately after the two hearings on the 15th, feeling that even one day between would be helpful in order to reflect on any issues arising from the hearings.

 

Mrs. Rogers indicated there were difficulties with finding another evening to meet, stating that if there are substantial changes the RPC must schedule another meeting.

 

 

Page 4 – Minutes – RPC meeting – January 30, 2008

Mr. Hill stated that if there are concerns after the hearings, another meeting could be scheduled after the 3:00 RPC meeting on the 15th.

 

The motion made by Mr. Letourneau and seconded by Mr. Smith to approve the presented schedule of upcoming events was VOTED (13 yeas, 0 nays, 1 abstention, and 2 absent).

 

Voting yea were Mr. Letourneau, Mrs. Totten, Ms. Benjamin, Mr. Billings, Mrs. Reinhart, Mr. Henderson, Mrs. Rogers, Mr. Harris, Mr. Hill, Mr. Trusiani, Ms. Poliquin, and the one-seat/one vote of Ms. Mason and Mr. Smith.

 

There were no nay votes.

 

Abstaining from voting was Ms. Multer.

 

Absent were Mr. Lavan and Ms. Grant.

 

Financial – Ms. Multer noted that at the next meeting, the Financial Sub-committee will present to the RPC formulas for projected cost-sharing for adding local costs to the Plan.  The RPC will receive something in advance of the next meeting.

 

Ms. Multer asked for suggestions, indicating those will be brought back to the full RPC, as well as the original formula and what the formula would be if the RSU went with the EPS model.

 

Employees & Bargaining – Mr. Harris stated that at the February 13th meeting, the RPC will be asked to vote on the acceptance of the proposed organizational chart. 

 

Mr. Harris said the Sub-committee had discussed how the RPC can best demonstrate the savings attributed versus the State model and demonstrate cost savings of consolidation.

 

Ms. Benjamin noted that the State staffing model for a system with 4,500 students supports central office staffing of 9; the RPC recommends 13, while the combined staff for both systems if 16.  She referenced a survey of comparably-sized systems, noting that Bangor with 4,015 students has 12 district office staff positions.

 

Superintendent Welsh noted that the minutes of tonight’s Employees & Bargaining Sub-committee breakout will include a chart for comparing staffing numbers with the State’s model.

 

H.       Wrap-up and schedule of meetings

 

Mr. Hill noted that the RPC had voted on cost-sharing of 50/50 to cover start-up costs of the RSU and asked Superintendent Wilhelm to share new information. 

 

 

Page 5 – Minutes – RPC meeting – January 30, 2008

Dr. Wilhelm reported that at the recent Superintendents Convocation, Commissioner Gendron announced that she had identified state funds which will cover start-up costs.

 

Mr. Trusiani asked if the sub-committees feel it’s realistic to be able to meet the proposed schedule.

 

Mr. Hill indicated that the Governance Committee is substantially finished.

 

Mr. Harris stated that identification of savings is to come from the Employees & Bargaining Sub-committee.

 

Dr. Wilhelm suggested that prior to the March 15th hearings the RPC could do a presentation on the advantages of consolidating.  He cautioned there could be concerns raised about choice.  He stated that the RPC needs to identify the known benefits of consolidating.  Mr. Hill noted that educational benefits aren’t things to go into the Plan.

 

Dr. Wilhelm reiterated that the RPC needs to be able to articulate the advantages if it’s going to be able to “sell” the Plan.  Mr. Trusiani wants to make sure the RPC can get the Plan to referendum and sell it

 

Superintendents Wilhelm and Welsh assured the RPC that they will work on identifying the educational benefits.

 

            The RPC meeting was declared adjourned at 8:40 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Rebecca A. Brillant

Recorder

 

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