PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MINUTES WILL NOT BE FINAL UNTIL
THE BOARD HAS APPROVED THEM AT ITS NEXT MEETING.
The Board of Directors of Maine School Administrative
District No. 75 held a regular meeting
at Mt. Ararat High School on
The following Directors were present: Joanne Rogers, Chair; Maryane Burns; Dorothy
“Dee” Carrier; Caroline Eliot; Robert W. Hill; David A. Johnson; Jane
Meisenbach; Andrea Najarian; Jeffrey Rowe; Jeffrey Steinert; Kim Totten; and
Roland Tufts.
Not present was Dorothy Gardner. The seat previously held by Edward Cook, III
and vacated by his resignation remains vacant.
Also present were Tasha Cornish and Sara Todd, student
representatives to the Board of Directors.
1. Call to order
The meeting was called to order
by Chairman Rogers at
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
and integrated appropriately into the agenda.
3.1 RECOGNITIONS AND
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
√
√ Bowdoinham
Community School “Techni-Kids on the Move” – Jacob Russell, Cole Atwood,
Brigitte Milliken, Connor Read, Brandon Desjardins, Sara Butterfuss, Sam
Ashouwak, Celia Ouellette, Krista Pierce
{added}√
{added}√ Brian
Flynn, Zach Bernier & Stephen Lanpher – MVR 10 Students of the Quarter
4. To
take action relative to accepting as printed the minutes of the January 26,
2006, regular meeting of the Board of Directors
It was moved by Mr. Steinert,
seconded by Mr. Johnson, and VOTED (713
yeas, 0 nays, 133 abstentions, 77 absent, and 77 vacant) to accept as
printed the minutes of the
Voting yea were Ms. Burns, Ms.
Eliot, Mr. Hill, Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Meisenbach, Ms. Najarian, Mrs. Rogers, Mr.
Steinert, Mrs. Totten, and Mr. Tufts.
There were no nay votes.
Abstaining from voting were Mrs.
Carrier and Mr. Rowe.
Absent was Mrs. Gardner. The seat previously held by Mr. Cook remains
vacant.
5. OLD BUSINESS:
5.1 To
enter executive session to discuss the contract to be negotiated with the
Merrymeeting Employees Association, pursuant to Title 1 M.R.S.A. 405 (6) (D)
The
Chair postponed this item until the end of the meeting.
6. NEW BUSINESS:
6.1 To
enter executive session pursuant to Title 1 M.R.S.A. Section 405 (6) (c) and
(E) for the purposes of discussing the disposition of publicly-held property in
preparation for negotiations with the Withdrawal Committee for the Town of
Harpswell and for the purposes of consulting with legal counsel regarding the
legal rights and duties of the Board
At 6:38 p.m. it was moved by Mrs.
Carrier, seconded by Mr. Steinert, and VOTED
(unanimously) to enter executive session pursuant to Title 1 M.R.S.A.
Section 405 (6) (c) and (E) for the purposes of discussing the disposition of
publicly-held property in preparation for negotiations with the Withdrawal
Committee for the Town of Harpswell and for the purposes of consulting with
legal counsel regarding the legal rights and duties of the Board.
Superintendent Wilhelm requested
that his intern, Debbie Fish, and staff members Ron Lavender and Karen
Koulovatos be invited to remain in the executive session. He heard no objection when he suggested that
the two student representatives be allowed to remain, stressing the importance
of respecting the confidentiality of the executive session.
The
executive session ended at
6.2 To
allow the Harpswell representatives to caucus to choose a Harpswell Board representative
to the Harpswell Withdrawal Committee and to approve that choice
Following
the caucus, Chairman Rogers asked the Board to approve the choice of Mrs.
Carrier as the Harpswell Board representative to the Harpswell Withdrawal
Committee.
It was moved, seconded, and VOTED (779 yeas, 0 nays, 67 abstentions, 77
absent, and 77 vacant) to approve the choice of Mrs. Carrier as the
Harpswell Board representative to the Harpswell Withdrawal Committee.
Voting yea were Ms. Burns, Ms.
Eliot, Mr. Hill, Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Meisenbach, Ms. Najarian, Mrs. Rogers, Mr. Rowe, Mr.
Steinert, Mrs. Totten, and Mr. Tufts.
There were no nay votes.
Abstaining from voting was Mrs.
Carrier.
Absent was Mrs. Gardner. The seat previously held by Mr. Cook remains
vacant.
6.3 To
form a sub-committee of the Board for the purpose of negotiations with the
Harpswell Withdrawal Committee
Representatives of each town
caucused. Following the caucus, it was
announced that Mrs. Totten would represent Bowdoin, Ms. Najarian would
represent Bowdoinham, and Mrs. Rogers would represent Harpswell on a
sub-committee of the Board for the purpose of negotiations with the Harpswell
Withdrawal Committee.
On behalf of the Topsham
representatives, Mr. Steinert asked the Board’s indulgence in allowing Topsham
to wait until the next Board meeting on February 16th, the same
evening Topsham Selectmen are expected to appoint a citizen to fill the
recently-vacated seat previously held by Edward Cook, III. No objection was heard.
6.4 To
approve the Implementation Plan for the MELMAC Community Grant with
Karen
Tilbor answered questions relative to this item.
6.5 To
hear a presentation from the Superintendent of Schools regarding 2006-2007
budget issues
This
item had been deleted from the agenda.
6.6 To undertake a first
reading of the Financial Conflict of Interest Policy
Business Manager Ron Lavender had
made a slight modification to the proposed policy after the draft had been
developed. Mr. Hill suggested a minor
change.
This was
considered the first of two required readings.
6.4 The
recorder noted that he Board had failed to make a motion regarding this item.
It was moved by Mr. Hill, seconded
by Mr. Johnson, and VOTED (unanimously) to
approve the Implementation Plan for the MELMAC Community Grant with
6.7 To
authorize the Superintendent of Schools to open a District purchase card
account and to submit an application to Key Bank on behalf of the Board for a
corporate VISA purchase card to use as a payment method for District financial
transactions that are authorized under existing Board policies
For several years some kinds of purchases
have been made using a credit card issued personally to the Superintendent (and
paid for by the District) with the card having a limit of $2,000.
Business Manager Ron Lavender has found
a corporate VISA card with no fees. The
number of cards to be issued will be limited, and the amount of each purchase
and an overall limit will be implemented.
Any proposed changes in the
arrangement would be brought back to the Board for its approval.
Mr. Hill urged caution in this
initiative, as he feels it’s “ripe for fraud.” The cards will be embossed, purchases will be
limited, and purchases will be deducted via direct debit from the District’s
bank.
Mr. Steinert suggested that requests
for any charges should be made by two individuals, with an appropriate review
by the Board and administration.
It was moved by Mr. Steinert,
seconded by Mr. Johnson, and VOTED
(unanimously) to authorize the Superintendent to open a District purchase
card account and to submit an application to Key Bank on behalf of the Board
for a corporate VISA purchase card to be used as a payment method for District
financial transactions that are authorized under existing Board policies.
6.8 To
revise the FY o5-06 budget for the Gifted & Talented Program to move $7,027
from teacher salaries to contracted services
It was moved by Mr. Hill, seconded
by Mrs. Carrier, and VOTED (unanimously)
to revise the FY 05-06 budget for the Gifted & Talented Program to move
$7,027 from teacher salaries to contracted services.
6.9 To
revise the FY 05-06 budget to move $8,387.13 from the math textbook adoption
account for the middle school to a supplies account for art for elementary
schools, District-wide
It was moved by Mr. Johnson,
seconded by Mr. Hill, and VOTED
(unanimously) to revise the FY 05-06 budget to move $8,387.13 from the math
textbook adoption account for the middle school to a supplies account for art
for elementary schools, District-wide.
7. COMMITTEE REPORTS:
7.1 Sports
Done Right – Superintendent Wilhelm reported that the Committee met on
February 8, following up on the middle school and high school forums. He plans to return to the middle school with
a different way of generating information.
The Committee has met with coaches and students,
will next get input from parents and community, then will meet with teachers.
7.2
Finance
Committee – Mr. Steinert reported on the February 6th meeting,
when the Finance Committee heard presentations from Moe St. Pierre, Doug
Stevens, Sally Loughlin and Mike Baker.
Meetings will resume on February 27th.
Mrs. Rogers relayed concerns
expressed to her and reiterated her belief that the budget process needs to
emphasize that it’s the Board’s commitment to develop a budget for all students.
7.3 Policy
Committee – Ms. Burns reported on the January 30th meeting,
reporting that the Wellness Policy is still being worked on.
7.4 Technology
Advisory Committee – Superintendent Wilhelm reported on the February 2nd
meeting of the Technology Advisory Committee.
7.5 Technology
Integration Committee – Assistant Superintendent Sally Loughlin reported on
the February 2nd meeting of the Technology Integration Committee.
7.6 Adult
Education Advisory Committee – Mrs. Carrier reported on the January 25th
meeting.
8. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT:
8.1
Financial Report – Business Manager Ron Lavender presented this report.
8.2
Correspondence
– Superintendent Wilhelm had shared with Board members MSMA information
relative to proposed legislation which would allow teachers to bargain policy.
8.3
Gary Brown’s
memorandum – Topsham Town Manager Gary Brown had communicated to his
Selectmen regarding the Harpswell withdrawal initiative, and Board members
received a copy.
8.4 Legislation
– Superintendent Wilhelm attended a February 6th meeting regarding
the Commissioner’s proposal to raise the ceiling for school construction.
Dr. Wilhelm reported that L.D. 1953
was presented today and that he, Senator Art Mayo, Senator Beth Edmonds, Gordon
Weil, a Harpswell parent and a Harpswell citizen, and several citizens of
A workshop session on L.D. 1953
will be held on February 15th during which no testimony will be
heard. Dr. Wilhelm will also attend this
session.
8.4
Community
Read Aloud – The Superintendent announced that “readers” for the March 2nd
Success by Six Read Aloud are needed at Bowdoin Central, Bowdoinham Community
and Harpswell Islands Schools.
5.1
To enter executive session to discuss the contract
to be negotiated with the Merrymeeting Employees Association, pursuant to Title
1 M.R.S.A. 405 (6) (D) {had been
deferred until the end of the meeting}
At 8:25 p.m. it was moved by Mrs.
Carrier, seconded by Mr. Hill, and VOTED
(unanimously) to enter executive session to discuss the contract to be
negotiated with the Merrymeeting Employees Association, pursuant to Title 1
M.R.S.A. 405 (6) (D).
Superintendent Wilhelm requested
that Ron Lavender and Karen Koulovatos be invited into the executive session.
The
executive session ended at
9. ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting was declared
adjourned at
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