PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MINUTES WILL NOT BE FINAL UNTIL

THE BOARD HAS APPROVED THEM AT ITS NEXT MEETING.

 

March 23, 2006

 

The Board of Directors of Maine School Administrative District No. 75 held a regular meeting at Maine Vocational Region Ten on Thursday, March 23, 2006.

 

The following Directors were present:  Joanne Rogers, Chair; Maryane Burns; Dorothy “Dee” Carrier; Marie Dickson; Caroline Eliot; Dorothy Gardner; Robert W. Hill; David A. Johnson; Jane Meisenbach; Andrea Najarian; Jeffrey Steinert; Kim Totten; and Roland Tufts.

 

Not present were Jeffrey Rowe, Tasha Cornish and Sara Todd.

 

1.         Call to order

 

            The meeting was called to order by Chairman Rogers at 7:10.

 

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

 

The recognition of medal-winners at the State Science Olympiad was added to the agenda.

 

3.1       RECOGNITIONS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

 

√          Welcome – Shirley Hartwell, Director of MVR 10 – In Mrs. Hartwell’s absence, Assistant Director Barry Lohnes welcome the Board to Maine Vocational Region Ten.  The Board expressed its appreciation for the dinner served by student prior to the Board meeting.

 

√          Destination Imagination winners:

 

For “Back at You” – 1st place Woodside JEWGS; 2nd place Bowdoin Central Flaming Flamingos

 

For “Inside Dimensions” – 1st place Harpswell Islands The 11th Dimension; 2nd place Williams-Cone 46 Mountain Lions

 

            For “On Safari” – 1st place Woodside Elementary School

                                               

√          Mt. Ararat PALS Read Across America participants:

 

            Danielle Phinney                                Elizabeth Brown

            Maria Chutchian                                Vantiel-Elizabeth Duncan

            Stephanie Hunt                                  Heather Woodhams

            Chelsea Allen                         Kristie Nickerson

            Stephanie Chinnapongse                   Christie Rogers

 

√          Matt Johnson – Named KVAC first team swimmer in the 100 backstroke, and second team in the 200 free style

 

Caleb Levesque, Ryan Farrar, Matt Swan, Dan Ollen – Named KVAC first team swimmers in the 800 meter relay team

 

Will Perry and Kurt Prescott – Named to KVAC second team in 800-meter relay

Erin Parker – KVAC All-Academic Swim Team

Meaghan Powell, Elizabeth Vantiel Duncan, Matt Swan and Will Perry – Named to All-Academic Indoor Track Team

Duncan Curry – First place in New England Swimming & Diving Championships

 

(added)            Mt. Ararat High School Science Olympiad Team – second place at State Science Olympiad:

                       

                        Ryan Vachon, Connor Fitzsimmons (Astronomy, 2nd place)

                        West Pelleteir, Josh Dennison (Computer This, 2nd place)

                        David Rollins, Patrick O’Neil (Designer Genes, 3rd place)

                        Brandon Almy, Dylan Stellpglug (Ecology, 1st place)

                        Ryan Freiberger, Connor Fitzsimmons (Fermi Questions, 3rd place)

                        Noah Lumsden, Connor Fitzsimmons (Food Science, 3rd place)

                        David Rollins, Josh Dennison (Health Science, 1st place)

                        Katie Reichert, Brandon Almy (Health Science, 2nd place)

                        Noah Lumsden, Ryan Vachon (Remote Sensing, 1st place)

                        Tasha Cornish, Stephanie Chinnapongse (Storm the Castle, 2nd place)

                        Tasha Cornish, Molly Parker (Tower Building, 2nd place)

                        Erik Brooks, Noah Lumsden (Wright Stuff, 1st place)

                       

4.         To take action relative to accepting as printed the minutes of the March 9, 2006, regular meeting of the Board of Directors

 

It was moved by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Tufts, and VOTED (unanimously) to accept as printed the minutes of the March 9, 2006, regular meeting of the Board of Directors.

                                                                                                           

5.         OLD BUSINESS:

 

5.1       To hear a report from Diana McCain regarding the State Review of the Adult Education Program

 

Mrs. McCain detailed for the Board the results of the State Review of the Adult Education Program.  The State reviewed all adult education programs receiving federal funds for literacy programs.

 

6.         NEW BUSINESS:

 

6.1       To approve a request from Donna Nunnally for a seven-day leave without pay

It was moved by Ms. Eliot, seconded by Mr. Johnson, and VOTED (unanimously) to approve a request from Donna Nunnally for a seven-day leave without pay.

 

6.4       (taken out of order)    To approve stipends at Level 3 (4% of BA, Step 0) for the Interact Club and the Gay/Straight Alliance

 

Mt. Ararat High School Principal Craig King endorsed the approval of these stipends.  Teacher Linda Baker and students Ariel Grosvenor and John Cards spoke to this item.  The students cited as an example of intolerance of students using derogatory terms just as a manner of speech.

 

Mrs. Rogers thanked the students for their words and reiterated that the language and behaviors cited by the students as being inappropriate in school is not acceptable – anywhere.

 

Mrs. Gardner read a statement wherein she feels that parents should know what students are doing in school and cited her belief that students are experimenting with different lifestyle choices, frequently leading to depression and suicide.

 

It was moved by Mrs. Carrier, seconded by Mr. Johnson, and VOTED (857 yeas, 0 nays, 77 abstentions, and 66 absent) to approve stipends at Level 3 (4% of BA, Step 0) for the Interact Club and the Gay/Straight Alliance.

 

Voting yea were Ms. Burns, Mrs. Carrier, Ms. Dickson, 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 was Mrs. Gardner

 

                        Mr. Rowe was absent.

 

            6.2       To hear a report from the District Drop-Out Prevention Committee

 

Co-Chairs Don Baker and Don Gray presented this report.  They had attended the 2005 Dropout Prevention Institute and were tasked with determining which students are “at risk” and answering the question of why students are dropping out.  They also attempted to determine which interventions were most effective.  They also studied what was currently being done (and more could be done) to prevent students from dropping out.

 

They noted that the act of dropping out is not a sudden one, but a “gradual        process of disengagement.”  There is no single reason a student opts to drop out.  The administration listed what it perceives to be reasons for students’ dropping out and also asked students for their perspective on why high school students drop out.  They also sought students’ input on the degree to which students feel “connected.”  Mr. Baker and Mr. Gray cited programs, strategies and interventions that work to prevent students from dropping out.  Also shared was student input on what might help “at risk” students.  Initiatives to curb the drop-out rate at the middle school and high school were shared with the Board.  Mr. Baker capped the presentation by stating that “at-risk children are not problems to be solved, but rather potential to be fulfilled.”

 

Mr. Gray and Mr. Baker invited one or two Board members to attend the 2006 Dropout Prevention Institute.

 

6.3       To hear a report regarding mentoring in M.S.A.D. No. 75

 

Dan Hall introduced himself as the VISTA volunteer coordinating efforts of local mentoring organizations.  He distributed copies of the Merrymeeting Bay Mentoring Coalition brochure and a “fact sheet” on the Bowdoin College mentoring program. 

6.4       To approve stipends at Level 3 (4% of BA, Step 0) for the Interact Club and the Gay/Straight Alliance

 

6.5       To revise the FY 2005-2006 general fund budget to provide additional funds from the following accounts in the total amount of $19,500 for daily transportation of students placed out of the District: 

 

Contracted Services Physical Therapy:              $6,000

Contracted Services Occupational Therapy:                  $6,000

Contracted Services Speech & Language:                     $7,500

 

It was moved by Mr. Steinert, seconded by Mr. Johnson, and VOTED (unanimously) to revise the FY 2005-2006 general fund budget to provide additional funds from the following accounts in the total amount of $19,500 for daily transportation of students placed out of the District:

 

Contracted Services Physical Therapy:              $6,000

Contracted Services Occupational Therapy:                  $6,000

Contracted Services Speech & Language:                     $7,500

 

7.         COMMTTEE REPORTS:

 

7.1       Finance Committee – Mr. Steinert reported on recent meetings.  Handouts were distributed.

 

7.2       Cooperative Board meeting – Ms. Najarian reported on the March 15th Cooperative Board meeting.  The budget was passed, and the winners of DECA competition were announced, many of whom will be competing in the national competition.

 

7.3       Facilities Committee – Superintendent Wilhelm reported on the March 16th meeting.  He will have further conversation with the Highlands regarding the land transfer request.

 

7.4       Withdrawal Committee – Mrs. Rogers stated that participation by all four towns in the negotiations process is legal and it would be inappropriate to ask her to recuse herself.

 

Harpswell’s withdrawal proposal was distributed, and Board members were asked not to discuss it.  It will be discussed in executive session at the next Board meeting.

 

7.5       School-Based Health Center Advisory Committee – The District is re-applying for funding for the School-Based Health Center.  The Superintendent is meeting Monday, April 27th with Mid-Coast Hospital regarding the degree to which the hospital can help.

 

7.6       Policy Committee – Ms. Burns reported that a Return-to-Work & Light-Duty Policy and the Wellness Policy were discussed at this evening’s Policy Committee meeting.                                                        

 

8.         SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT:

 

8.1       Financial Report – Business Manager Ron Lavender presented the financial report.

 

8.2       Presentation at West Bath Elementary School – The Superintendent reported that he attended a West Bath School Committee meeting to answer questions regarding programs in M.S.A.D. No.75 and the possibility of West Bath students tuitioning to M.S.A.D. No. 75.

 

8.3       Meetings with Selectmen – Superintendent Wilhelm will meet with Selectmen as follows:  March 27th (Bowdoin); March 29th (Bowdoinham); and March 30th (Harpswell) for the purpose of talking about the budget and to answer questions relative to the withdrawal process.

 

8.4       Calendar Committee – Mr. Johnson volunteered to represent the Board on the Calendar Committee.

 

8.5       Maine Youth Suicide Prevention Program Report – Health Education Coordinator Mary Booth reported that the District will receive $5,000 in Year One and $7,500 each in Years 2 and 3 to address issues related to youth suicide.

 

9.         ADJOURNMENT:

 

The meeting was declared adjourned at 8:50 p.m.

 

 

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