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; Marie
Dickson; Dorothy Gardner; Robert W. Hill; David A. Johnson; Jane Meisenbach;
Andrea Najarian; Jeffrey Steinert; Rebekah Stimpson; Kim Totten; and Roland
Tufts.
Not present were Dorothy “Dee” Carrier and Gwen Thomas.
Also present was Sara Todd, student representative 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.
(correction to)
3.1
Correct
spelling of Rebekah Stimpson’s name
(add to)
3.1 Athletic
recognitions
(add)
5.2
To review
the status of the Special Education transition space proposal for site
renovations and to consider transferring funds to address revised construction
estimates
(add to)
6.2 Appointments
√ Jason
Knight, as high school science teacher, effective
√ Kellie
Shaughnessy, as one-year Grade Two teacher at Bowdoin Central School,
effective September 1, 2006, at Bachelor’s, Step 0
√ Catherine
Sleeman, as high school special education teacher, effective September 1,
2006, at Bachelor’s +15, Step 5
√ Jeffrey
Trippe, as one-year high school English teacher, effective September 1,
2006, at Master’s, Step 17
√ Zachary
Fields, as one-year high school art teacher, effective September 1, 2006,
at Bachelor’s, Step 2
{add}
7.4
MVR 10
Cooperative Board
{add}
8.4
MVR 10
Enrollment Task Force Report
{add}
8.5
Correspondence
{add}
8.6
Resolution
{add} Executive session to discuss a tentative
agreement with Merrymeeting Employees bargaining unit
3.1 RECOGNITIONS AND
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
√ Welcome
Rebekah {spelling correction noted} Stimpson – New Board member from Bowdoinham
√ Jeff
Steinert – In recognition of six years of service representing Topsham on
the M.S.A.D. No. 75 Board of Directors
Mr. Steinert noted that he has
worked with 35 different Board members during his six years on the Board. He stated his years on the Board have been
rewarding and that among the most satisfying has been development of the
Board’s class size guidelines. He
challenged the Board to be proactive in the arena of gifted and talented
education, especially on the elementary level.
√ Mt. Ararat High School Spring Sport Recognitions:
Jordan Bichrest & Marshall Chick – Varsity baseball, KVAC
All-conference, 1st team
Brandon Wyman – Varsity baseball, KVAC
All-conference, 2nd team
Janina Brown – Varsity softball, KVAC All-Conference, 1st
team, selected to participate in the Senior All-star game
Danielle Phinney – Varsity softball, KVAC All-conference, 2nd
team, All-Academic
Lauren Potter, Miranda Johnson & Michelle Prevost – Varsity
softball, KVAC, honorable mention
Ryan Vermette – Varsity boys lacrosse, KVAC All-conference, 1st
team, selected to participate in Senior All-star Game
Dan Haggerty & Reuben Fischer-Baum – Varsity boys lacrosse,
KVAC All-conference, 2nd team
Dan Haggerty – Selected to participate
in the Senior All-star game
Kelsey Fenwick & Danielle Plourde – Girls varsity lacrosse,
KVAC All-conference, 1st team
Kristin Thomason – Girls varsity lacrosse, KVAC All-conference, wnd
team
Mike Hill – Varsity boys tennis, KVAC
All-conference, 1st team, runner-up in the State singles
championships, qualified for the New England Championships
Don Foley – KVAC Coach of the Year
Katie
Marstaller & Chelsea Annese – Varsity girls tennis, KVAC
All-conference, 1st team
Christie Rogers & Katie Marstaller – Varsity girls
tennis, KVAC All-academic
Matt Swan & Will Perry – Varsity boys track, KVAC All-academic
Ryan
Farrar, Caleb Levesque, Will Perry & Kurt Prescott – Varsity boys
track, Class A State championship meet winners, 4 x
400m relay
Caleb Levesque, Ryan Farrar, Matt Swan &
Stewart Palmer – KVAC Coach of the Year
Erica
Woods, Krystal Douglas, Kelsey Karkos & Kayla Morong Varsity
girls track, State runners-up, 4 x 800m relay, Class A State championships
4. To
take action relative to accepting as printed the minutes of the May 25, {correction noted} 2006 {regular}; May 31, 2006 {special}; and June
8, 2006 {regular} meetings of the Board of Directors
It was moved by Mr. Johnson,
seconded by Mr. Steinert, and VOTED (724
yeas, 0 nays, 143 abstentions, and 133 absent) to accept as printed the
minutes of the
Voting yea were Ms. Burns, Mrs.
Dickson, Mrs. Gardner, Mr. Hill, Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Meisenbach, Ms. Najarian,
Mrs. Rogers, Mr. Steinert and Mrs. Totten
There were no nay votes.
Abstaining from voting were Ms.
Stimpson and Mr. Tufts.
Absent were Mrs. Carrier and Mrs.
Thomas.
It was moved by Mr. Johnson,
seconded by Mrs. Gardner, and VOTED (658
yeas, 0 nays, 209 abstentions, and 133 absent) to accept as printed the
minutes of the
Voting yea were Ms. Burns, Mrs.
Dickson, Mrs. Gardner, Mr. Hill, Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Meisenbach, Mrs. Rogers, Mr.
Totten, and Mr. Tufts.
There were no nay votes.
Abstaining
from voting were Ms. Najarian, Mr. Steinert and Ms. Stimpson.
Absent were
Mrs. Carrier and Mrs. Thomas.
In the minutes of the June 8th
meeting, Ms. Najarian noted that she actually had been absent at that meeting
{she had been marked as being in attendance}.
It was moved by Mrs. Gardner,
seconded by Mr. Johnson, and VOTED (735
yeas, 0 nays, 132 abstentions, and 133 absent) to accept as corrected the
minutes of the
Voting yea were Ms. Burns, Mrs.
Dickson, Mrs. Gardner, Mr. Hill, Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Meisenbach, Mrs. Rogers, Mr.
Steinert, Mrs. Totten, and Mr. Tufts.
There were no nay votes.
Abstaining from voting were Ms.
Najarian and Ms. Stimpson.
Absent were Mrs. Carrier and Mrs. Thomas.
5. OLD BUSINESS:
5.1 To
hear a follow-up report on the high school advisory program and to consider
advisory credit as a requirement for graduation at ¼ credit per year for the
Class of 2010
Claudette Brassil noted that the
advisory program continues to focus on encouragingstudents to consider
post-secondary options. The mission
statement will be posted.
Karen Tilbor told Board members
that next year, it’s the goal to have all seniors complete a college admissions
application, and that she hopes to have enough funding options (i.e., vouchers)
to allow all to participate in this exercise.
It was moved by Ms. Najarian,
seconded by Mrs. Gardner, and VOTED
(unanimously) to approve advisory credit as a requirement for graduation at
¼ credit per year for the Class of 2010.
5.2
To review the status of the Special Education
transition space proposal for site renovations and to consider transferring
funds to address revised construction estimates
Special Services Director Patrick
Moore stated that the issue of transition is becoming a major difficulty in
keeping severely multi-handicapped students in school as opposed to placing
them out-of-District. After development
of a site plan, costs of renovations increased.
He recommends construction
renovations which include a handicapped accessible shower, as he feels that
within two years he would be back requesting construction of such a
shower. He believes the District will be
able to recoup the additional expenses within a two-year period by not having
to access funds for out-of-District tuition placements for such students.
It was moved by Mrs. Gardner,
seconded by Mr. Hill, and VOTED
(unanimously) to approve a total of $120,000 to renovate the Special
Education transition space, which includes a budgeted amount of $65,000, and to
transfer funds {$55,000} from out-of-District tuition account to address
revised construction estimates.
6. NEW BUSINESS:
6.1
To elect a Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board for the
ensuing year
Mrs. Rogers thanked her fellow
Board members for her year as Chairman.
The Towns of Topsham and Bowdoin
caucused.
Mr. Steinert nominated Mr. Hill to
serve as Chairman of the Board for the ensuing year. Mrs. Gardner seconded the nomination.
Mrs. Rogers nominated Mrs. Totten
to serve as Vice-Chairman of the Board for the ensuing year. Mr. Steinert seconded the nomination.
Mr. Hill and Mrs. Totten were ELECTED (unanimously) to serve as Chair
and Vice-Chairman, respectively, of the Board for the ensuing year.
6.2 To
appoint teachers to first-year probationary contracts for the 2006-2007
contract year, as follows:
√ Erika
Johansen, as
It was moved by Mrs. Gardner,
seconded by Mr. Steinert, and VOTED
(unanimously) to appoint Erika
Johansen to a first-year probationary contract for the 2006-2007 contract
year, as a Mt. Ararat High School special educator, effective September 1,
2006, at Bachelor’s, Step 0.
√ Robin
Kroc, as two-day/week elementary speech pathologist, effective
It was moved by Ms. Burns,
seconded by Mr. Steinert, and VOTED
(unanimously) to appoint Robin Kroc to
a first-year probationary contract for the 2006-2007 contract year, as a two-day/week elementary speech pathologist,
effective
√ Jason
Knight, as high school science teacher, effective
It was moved by Mr. Steinert,
seconded by Mr. Johnson, and VOTED
(unanimously) to appoint Jason
Knight to a first-year probationary contract for the 2006-2007 contract
year, as a high school science teacher, effective September 1, 2006, at
Bachelor’s +15, Step 3.
√ Kellie
Shaughnessy, as one-year Grade Two teacher at Bowdoin Central School,
effective September 1, 2006, at Bachelor’s, Step 0
It was moved by Ms. Burns,
seconded by Mrs. Gardner, and VOTED
(unanimously) to appoint Kellie
Shaughnessy to a first-year probationary contract for the 2006-2007
contract year, as a one-year Grade Two teacher at
√ Catherine
Sleeman, as high school special education teacher, effective September 1,
2006, at Bachelor’s +15, Step 5
It
was moved by Mrs. Gardner, seconded by Mr. Johnson, and VOTED (unanimously) to appoint Catherine
Sleeman to a first-year probationary contract for the 2006-2007 contract
year, as a high school special education teacher, effective September 1, 2006,
at Bachelor’s +15, Step 5.
√ Jeffrey
Trippe, as one-year high school English teacher, effective September 1,
2006, at Master’s, Step 17
It was moved by Ms. Burns,
seconded by Ms. Najarian, and VOTED
(unanimously) to appoint Jeffrey
Trippe to a first-year probationary contract for the 2006-2007 contract
year as a one-year high school English teacher, effective September 1, 2006, at
Master’s, Step 17.
√ Zachary
Fields, as one-year high school art teacher, effective September 1, 2006,
at Bachelor’s, Step 2
It was moved by Ms. Burns, seconded
by Mr. Johnson, and VOTED (unanimously) to
appoint Zachary Fields to a
first-year probationary contract for the 2006-2007 contract year as a one-year
high school art teacher, effective September 1, 2006, at Bachelor’s, Step 2.
6.2
To approve the transfers of staff for the 2006-2007
contract year, as follows:
√ Molly
Smith, from middle school special education, to
&
√ Jessica Heath, from middle school
foreign language, to
It was moved by Ms. Burns,
seconded by Mr. Johnson, and VOTED
(unanimously) to approve the transfers of staff for the 2006-2007 contract year, as follows:
√ Molly
Smith, from middle school special education, to
&
√ Jessica
Heath, from middle school foreign language, to
6.4 To
adjust the appointment of Lisa Shipley, special
education social worker, from .4 FTE at West Harpswell School and .6 FTE at the
high school, to full-time at the high school
It was moved by Mr. Johnson,
seconded by Ms. Burns, and VOTED
(unanimously) to adjust the appointment of Lisa Shipley, special education social worker, from .4 FTE at West
Harpswell School and .6 FTE at the high school, to full-time at the high
school.
6.5 To
increase the contract of Anne Heminway
from .6 FTE social worker to full-time District social worker (.7 FTE general
education social worker and .3 FTE special education social worker)
It was moved by Ms. Burns,
seconded by Mr. Johnson, and VOTED
(unanimously) to increase the contract of Anne Heminway from .6 FTE social worker to
full-time District social worker (.7 FTE general education social worker and .3
FTE special education social worker).
6.6 To
increase the contract of Barbara
Piccirillo, Occupational Therapist, from .8 FTE to full-time
It was moved by Ms. Burns,
seconded by Mr. Tufts, and VOTED
(unanimously) to increase the contract of Barbara Piccirillo, Occupational Therapist, from .8 FTE to
full-time.
6.7 To
increase the contract of Diane
Lamere-Wallace, Occupational Therapist, from .6 FTE to .8 FTE
It was moved by Ms. Burns,
seconded by Mr. Johnson, and VOTED
(unanimously) to increase the contract of Diane Lamere-Wallace, Occupational Therapist, from .6 FTE to .8 FTE.
6.8 To
accept the resignation of Edward
Striewski, Grade Five teacher at Harpswell Islands School, effective August
31, 2006
It was moved by Ms. Burns, seconded
by Mr. Steinert, and VOTED (unanimously)
to accept the resignation of Edward
Striewski, Grade Five teacher at
6.9 To
accept the resignation of Doug Stevens, Facilities
Director, effective
Mr. Stevens was complimented on
his “high bar” job performance. Mr. Hill
thanked Mr. Stevens for his work with the Board on the Facilities
Committee. He responded by thanking the
Board for its support, saying he has enjoyed his job in M.S.A.D. No. 75.
It was moved by Mr. Johnson, seconded
by Ms. Burns, and VOTED (unanimously) to
accept with regret the resignation of Doug
Stevens, Facilities Director, effective
6.10 To
acknowledge the intent to retire of Maria
Brancato,
The Board of Directors DULY ACKNOWLEDGED the intent to retire
of Maria Brancato,
6.11 To
consider a request from Amy Hall, Woodside
Elementary School special educator, for a leave of absence without pay for the
2006-2007 school year
It was moved by Mr. Steinert,
seconded by Mrs. Gardner, and VOTED
(unanimously) to approve a request from Amy Hall,
6.12 To
certify the results of the
Superintendent Wilhelm thanked the
Finance Committee for its hard work.
It was moved by Mrs. Gardner,
seconded by Mr. Johnson, and VOTED
(unanimously) to certify the results of the
6.13 To
consider the Superintendent’s recommendations for contract extensions and
salary increases for non-union administrators
Two adjustments to the
previously-printed recommendations were noted and duly integrated herein.
It was moved by Mrs. Rogers,
seconded by Mr. Johnson, and VOTED
(unanimously) to approve the Superintendent’s recommendations for contract
extensions and salary increases for non-union administrators, as listed below.
One-year contract extensions:
Mary Booth, Health
Coordinator – 3.5% increase {continued next page}
Patrick
Moore, Special Education Director – 3.6% increase
Karen Tilbor, Dean of Post-Secondary
Planning - $49,800 for 2006-2007
Ron
Lavender, Business Manager – 3.5% increase
Michael
Baker, Technology Director – 3.1% increase
William
Congdon, Elementary Technology Coordinator – 3.5% increase
Casey
Couture, Technology Systems Administrator – 3% increase
Andrew
Logan, Middle School Laptop Coordinator – 3.5% increase
Michael
Nelson, Middle School Technology Coordinator – 3.5% increase
Ben
Menair, High School Technology Coordinator – 3.5% increase
David Cowing, Elementary Special
Education Coordinator – 3.5% increase
Alison
Pols, High School Special Education Coordinator – 3.5% increase
Maurice “Moe”
Steve
Parrot, District Programmer – 3% increase
Sue
Shaw, Orion Manager – 3.5% increase
Colin
Roy, High School Athletic Director – 3.5% increase
Jim
Wilkens, Transportation Director - $47,000 for 2006-2007
Steve Reed, Middle School/High
School Facilities Supervisor – 3.5% increase
John
Lowell, .7 FTE Adult Education Counselor – 3.5%
increase
Tanji Johnston, Middle School
Special Education Coordinator – 3.5% increase
Michele McCarthy, District
Accountant - $46,873 for 2006-2007
Diana
McCain, Adult Education Director – 3.5% increase
Bette
Manchester, Distinguished Educator – 3.5% increase
Two-year contract
extensions
Sally Loughlin,
Assistant Superintendent – 4% increase
Karen
Koulovatos, Human Resources Director – 3% increase
Don
Gray, High School Assistant Principal – 3.5% increase
6.14
To consider if the Board of Directors will nominate
members to seats on the Maine School Boards Association and as officers
No nominations were forthcoming.
6.15 To
approve a three-year extension of the District’s lease with the Auburn School
Department for space in Building 376 that houses the ShareCenter
Superintendent Wilhelm noted that
the ShareCenter collects donations from businesses and that it’s a real
advantage to teachers for materials for use in classrooms.
It was moved by Mrs. Gardner,
seconded by Mr. Johnson, and VOTED
(unanimously) to approve a three-year extension of the District’s lese with
the Auburn School Department for space in Building 376 that houses the
ShareCenter.
6.16 To
authorize a one-time exception to Board Policy DN to allow the proceeds from
the sale of excess food service equipment from the middle school kitchen to be
credited as revenue to the food service account
It was moved by Mrs. Rogers,
seconded by Ms. Burns, and VOTED
(unanimously) to authorize a one-time exception to Board Policy DN to allow
the proceeds from the sale of excess food service equipment from the middle
school kitchen to be credited as revenue to the food service account.
6.17 To
consider a request from the Title I Tutors Association to extend the retirement
reimbursement for unused sick leave, even though their departure is not the
result of retirement
The tutors’ bargaining unit has
been disbanded, with the elimination of the tutors’ position. This proposal has the endorsement of the
Superintendent.
It was moved by Mrs. Rogers,
seconded by Mrs. Najarian, and VOTED
(unanimously) to approve a request from the Title I Tutors Association to
extend the retirement reimbursement for unused sick leave, even though their
departure is not the result of retirement, funding to come from the Contingency
Account.
6.18 To
hear a report on the District’s progress toward Board goals
Goal 1: To support the
District’s efforts to meet the requirements of Chapter 127 and the No Child
Left Behind Legislation
Sally
Loughlin opened the discussion.
Brenda Brown addressed the
District’s use of data, and Otis Thompson spoke of the early numeracy course.
Goal 2: To support the
District efforts for greater personalization of student learning
Brenda French spoke of building
communication skills, while Donna Brunette told the Board of the Advisory
Program at the middle school.
Goal 3: To increase the
number of students attending post-secondary training and decrease the number of
disaffected students
George Jenkins told the Board of a
very successful meeting sponsored by
Diane Stahl spoke of work done by
Tom Broussard in the thrust to increase aspiration levels.
Michael Estes told the Board of the
Bowdoin College SMART Program to provide mentors for students.
Goal 4: To evaluate what
role technology should play in the instructional lives of students and the
District’s degree of commitment to this vision
Craig
King addressed technology integration.
Patrick Moore demonstrated that
the use of technology has become more sophisticated K-12 over the years.
Goal 5: To increase the
involvement of parents and community in our schools and our schools in the community
Mike
Wilhelm spoke of the implementation of a “parent compact.”
Sandy Trach told the Board of
Woodside’s involvement in the Mid-Coast Hunger Prevention Project.
Alison
Pols talked about use of volunteers in schools.
Goal 6: Emphasize character
development that sets high standards for tolerance, diversity and democracy
education
Brenda Brown told the Board that
staff had noticed inappropriate language and touching and invited Steve Wessler
of the Center for Hate Violence from
At
the next Board meeting a workshop will be held on Board goals.
6.19 To
enter executive session to discuss the Superintendent’s evaluation, pursuant to
1-M.R.S.A. Section 405 (6)(D)
This
will be taken at the end of the agenda.
6.20 To
consider an extension of the Superintendent’s contract and salary for the
2006-2007 contract year
This
will be addressed at the end of the agenda.
7. COMMITTEE REPORTS:
7.1 Policy
Committee – Ms. Burns reported that the Policy Committee will bring a “bullying
policy” to the Board, which will be a combination of policies relative to
bullying and harassment.
7.2
Comprehensive Planning Committee – Mr. Hill told
the Board that the Comprehensive Planning Committee supports Brenda French’s
request for an additional Educational Technician at
It was moved by Mrs. Rogers,
seconded by Mr. Johnson, and VOTED
(unanimously) to fund the addition of an educational technician at
7.3 Support
Staff Negotiations – At the end of the agenda, the Board will enter executive
session to discuss the tentative agreement on a successor contract between the
Board and Merrymeeting Employees Association.
8. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT:
8.1 Financial
Report – Business Manager Ron Lavender presented this report.
It was moved by Mr. Johnson,
seconded by Mrs. Rogers, and VOTED
(unanimously) to authorize the Superintendent of Schools to enter into a
fixed price gas contract at this time, for purchase of gasoline for next year.
8.2 Summer
Board meeting schedule – The Board of Directors will meet on July 13th,
August 10th and 24th.
8.3
Tabor Initiative – Due to another commitment,
Superintendent Wilhelm did not serve as the spokesperson at the Citizens United
(anti-Tabor coalition).
8.4
MVR 10 Enrollment Task Force – Board members were
provided with a copy of the Task Force’s findings. This will be discussed at a future meeting.
8.5
Correspondence – Board members were provided copies
of letters from Bowdoinham and Topsham sent to Commissioner Gendron relative to
the Harpswell Withdrawal Proposal presented to her, in addition to a letter
from the attorney for the Harpswell Withdrawal Committee.
8.6
Resolution – The District has an opportunity to
join other school systems in applying to participate in the Maine Readiness
Campaign, an 18-month program dedicated to shared commitment from school board,
municipal and civic leaders to work together to “ready” all Maine graduates for
college, career and citizenship.
It was moved by Mrs. Gardner,
seconded by Mrs. Rogers, and VOTED
(unanimously) to endorse a resolution to participate in the Maine Readiness
Campaign, as outlined above.
6.21 Executive
session – At 9:15 p.m. it was moved by Mrs. Rogers, seconded by Mr. Steinert,
and VOTED (unanimously) to enter
executive session to discuss the tentative agreement between the M.S.A.D. No.
75 Board of Directors and the Merrymeeting Employees Association, pursuant to 1
M.R.S.A. Section 405(6)(D) and to discuss the Superintendent’s
evaluation, pursuant to 1 M.R.S.A. Section 405 (6)(D).
{Superintendent J. Michael Wilhelm
was present in the executive session during the discussion on the tentative
agreement with the Merrymeeting Employees Association.}
The executive session ended at
6.20 To
consider an extension of the Superintendent’s contract and salary for the
2006-2007 contract year
It was moved by Mrs. Rogers,
seconded by Mr. Johnson, and VOTED
(unanimously) to grant the Superintendent a one-year contract extension and
a 4% salary increase.
9. ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting
was adjourned at
/bb/agenda6222006