PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MINUTES WILL NOT BE FINAL UNTIL THE BOARD HAS APPROVED THEM AT ITS NEXT METEING.

 

October 12, 2006

 

The Board of Directors of Maine School Administrative District No. 75 held a regular meeting at Harpswell Islands School on Thursday, October 12, 2006.

 

The following Directors were present:  Robert W. Hill, Chairman; Maryane Burns; Dorothy “Dee” Carrier; Marie Dickson; Dorothy Gardner; David A. Johnson; Jane Meisenbach; Joanne Rogers; Donald A. Russell; Gwen Thomas; Kim Totten; and Roland Tufts.

 

Not present were Andrea Najarian and Rebekah Stimpson.

 

Also present were Sara Todd and Sam Prindall, student representatives to the Board of Directors.

 

1.         Call to order

 

The meeting was called to order 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

 

            An adjustment to the agenda was noted, as follows:

 

            {delete/postpone}

3.1              Recognitions – Marla Blake – School Nurse of the Year (The announcement is premature and will be made at next Board meeting.)

 

3.1       RECOGNITIONS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

 

√          Welcome to Harpswell Islands School – Brenda French, Principal

 

Principal French noted that Harpswell Islands School will be celebrating its 50th birthday on June 1, 2007.

 

Chairman Hill thanked the PTO for the wonderful dinner served to Board members prior to this evening’s  meeting.

 

√          Marla Blake, Mt. Ararat High School Nurse – School Nurse of the Year --- This item was removed from the agenda.

                                                                                               

√          Henry McCorkle – Recipient of this year’s Mt. Ararat High School Principal Leadership Award

 

√          Noah Lumsden and Elizabeth Guerette – Winners of National Council of Teachers of English writing award

 

√          Donna Brunette and Michael Estes – Leaders tapped by the National School Leadership Network to start a mentoring system for Maine Principals

 

4.         To take action relative to accepting as printed the minutes of the September 28, 2006, regular meeting of the Board of Directors

 

Mrs. Carrier noted that at the September 28, 2006, meeting, she had left the meeting at 7:15 p.m.

 

It was moved by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mrs. Gardner, and VOTED (791 yeas, 0 nays, 77 abstentions, and 132 absent) to accept as amended the minutes of the September 28, 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, Mrs. Rogers, Mr. Russell, Ms. Thomas, and Mrs. Totten.

 

There were no nay votes.

           

Abstaining from voting was Mr. Tufts.

 

Absent were Ms. Najarian and Ms. Stimpson.

 

5.         OLD BUSINESS:

 

5.1       To consider a request from Katie Benner, .5 FTE special education teacher, for a leave of absence without pay effective 12 weeks after the birth of her child until the end of the school year

 

Ms. Benner is a probationary special education teacher, although she has been with the District for almost five years.  She was employed full time with M.S.A.D. No. 75 for three years (2001-2004).  She was rehired in 2005 as a half-time teacher.  The Board can make an exception to its “six months without pay” policy if the leave can be considered in the best interest of the District.

 

 Ms.  Burns asked whether granting this request is “in the best interest of the District” (quoting from Board policy relative to such requests).  Bowdoin Central School Principal George Jenkins indicated it would be difficult to replace her, as part-time special education teachers are difficult to find, and urged the Board to consider granting her request. 

 

Superintendent Wilhelm indicated that it is problematic to grant a leave to a probationary teacher and contrary to policy.  He noted that she has served the District for four years, as required by the policy, although not consecutive years.                                                            

He suggested the Board could grant the request, based on the expressed difficulty of finding a half-time teacher of special education, and state that said approval is not precedent-setting.

 

Ms. Burns asked how difficult it will be to find a substitute for the three-month period of time Ms. Benner will be out on sick leave and Family Medical Leave.  Principal Jenkins indicated that a long-term substitute opening would be posted and the position filled in that manner.  Ms. Benner assured Board members that she will be returning to her position upon completion of her leave.

 

Ms. Burns expressed her readiness to implement the last sentence of the policy in granting the request when “deemed in the best interest of the School District.”

 

It was moved by Mr. Tufts, seconded by Ms. Thomas, and VOTED (667 yeas, 201 nays, 0 abstentions, and 132 absent) to consider/approve a request from Katie Benner, .5 FTE special education teacher, for a leave of absence without pay effective 12 weeks after the birth of her child until the end of the school year, with the qualifier that approval of this request is not precedent setting (in granting a non-continuing contract teacher such a leave); that this is a valid exception to Board policy in that  it’s been sufficiently demonstrated that it is in the best interest of the School District to grant this leave request.

 

Voting yea were Ms. Burns, Ms. Dickson, Mrs. Gardner, Mr. Hill, Mrs. Meisenbach, Mr. Russell, Ms. Thomas, Mrs. Totten, and Mr. Tufts.

 

Voting nay were Mrs. Carrier, Mr. Johnson, and Mrs. Rogers.

 

There were no abstentions.

 

Absent were Ms. Najarian and Ms. Stimpson.

 

5.2       To undertake a second reading and adopt a School Board Members Code of Ethics

 

It was moved by Mrs. Rogers, seconded by Mrs. Gardner, and VOTED (unanimously) to accept the second reading and adopt a School Board Members Code of Ethics.

 

6.         NEW BUSINESS:

 

6.1       To appoint Margaret “Meg” McLaughlin as District Accountant, effective October 26, 2006

 

            It was moved by Mrs. Carrier, seconded by Mr. Tufts, and VOTED (unanimously) to appoint Margaret “Meg” McLaughlin as District Accountant, effective October 26, 2006.

 

6.2       To appoint Beth Andrews Lamberson to the position of Middle School Guidance Counselor at Master’s, Step 10, effective October 30 (prorated to October 30, 2006)

 

            It was moved by Mrs. Carrier, seconded by Mrs. Gardner, and VOTED (unanimously) to appoint Beth Andrews Lamberson to the position of Middle School Guidance Counselor at Master’s, Step 10, effective October 30, (prorated to October 30, 2006).

 

6.3       To hear a report from Chris Shaw, Director of Facilities and Projects, on the status of District capital improvement projects

 

            Mr. Shaw updated the Board on the status of District capital improvement projects.

 

            In response to a question from Mrs. Carrier, he will look into the matter of repairs needed to the main entrance of West Harpswell School.  Noting there are four other entrances to the building, Mrs. Carrier stated that now is the time to make the repairs to the front walkway to prevent rain and melting snow from soaking the carpet.  Mr. Shaw faces the difficulty of getting someone to do the work at this short notice.

 

            Mr. Shaw noted that installation of a canopy over Bowdoin Central kitchen’s exit must be done before the roof has accumulated snow on it.

 

6.4       To accept the resignation of Dee Carrier as M.S.A.D. No. 75 representative to the Harpswell Withdrawal Committee

 

            Mrs. Carrier read the following statement.

 

            “This is to inform the Board of Directors of SAD No. 75 that retroactive to September 28, 2006, I officially resigned as the Board’s representative to the Harpswell Withdrawal Committee.

 

            “I did so for many reasons, one of which was and still is the continued lack of communication with the Commissioner of Education.  Waiting for over 2 ˝ weeks for clarification of a statement made by the Commission was and still is unacceptable.  It was becoming more and more frustrating waiting, and in the meantime, more road blocks were going up.

           

“Like the old saying goes, ‘my momma didn’t raise no fool,’ the handwriting was on the wall – this process was going nowhere.  It was also taking its toll on me personally.  I went into the process voluntarily hoping to provide the citizens of Harpswell with a sound education proposal that they could vote on as they had indicated by the January 28th vote.  It disappoints me that I couldn’t deliver that proposal.  Unfortunately, this issue is not dead.  The citizens of Harpswell deserve closure.  How they (will) get it I don’t know.

 

            “I want to thank the Board members for their support and understanding.  These last eight months have been inexplainable.  I would not wish this on my worst enemy – if I had one – which I don’t.

 

            “I would like the Board to consider creating a legislative committee made up of Board members, possibly Town officials, and interested citizens, to work on creating legislation to address the issues that are affecting the District.  The issue with the lack of support from the State to the Town of Harpswell is still out there, and it will become more prevalent when the renovation of Mt. Ararat High School becomes real.  I also think – and it may be too late – that it would be a good idea to try and get candidates for office to come to a forum where they are asked questions directly relating to the concerns of the District and at the same time relay to them what – if anything – we are especially concerned with.

 

            “Again, thank you all for your support and understanding!”

 

Chairman Hill thanked Mrs. Carrier for the representation she gave to this effort. 

 

It was moved by Mrs. Gardner, seconded by Mrs. Rogers, and VOTED (unanimously) to accept the resignation of Dee Carrier as M.S.A.D. No. 75 representative to the Harpswell Withdrawal Committee.

 

6.5       To hear a report from Michael Estes on the Community Gardens at West Harpswell School

                       

Sponsored by the Harpswell Land Trust, the Community Gardens have been installed, incorporating many academic components – geometric shapes, different kinds (perennials, annuals) of flowers, a compass for telling direction, and geology (different kinds of rocks integrated into the garden’s design).

                       

Benches have been installed in the hope of providing a quiet place for reading.  A “pizza garden” will be planted, and if successful, pizza will be made using the products of the garden.

 

6.6              To hear a report on the Maine Youth Drug and Alcohol Use Survey data for M.S.A.D. No. 75

 

Mary Booth highlighted results of the survey.  Commenting on findings that many students feel unsafe in their school, Mrs. Rogers asked if the physical layout of the high school adds to students’ feeling unsafe.  Superintendent Wilhelm believes that so many doors of entrance to the school make the building more porous. 

 

Mrs. Gardner cited a lack of character development in students today, adding that students need to be taught to make good decisions.

 

Dr. Wilhelm asked the Board’s student representatives to express their thoughts on the survey results.  Sara Todd agreed that the high school’s construction design lends itself to students’ feelings of not being safe.  She feels the report lets people know what’s going on in the lives of students.  Sam Prindall agreed with her statements.  He pointed out that student experiences of discomfort at school may have as much to do with the student’s life experiences as they do with the school.

 

Mrs. Totten stated, as an example, that students sometimes don’t realize that violence portrayed in video games can actually become real.  She emphasized the need to not shelter students so much, citing her own experience of having to visit funeral homes to learn about death. 

 

With respect to the report’s alcohol use data, Principal Craig King stated that students understand that the consequences of drinking can be bad, but that they frequently don’t relate those consequences to themselves.  Mary Booth stated that there are students who are drinking but not driving, indicating that there are circumstances under which students are allowed to drink in what is perceived to be a “safe” environment, with the mindset of parents being that it’s safe as long as they’re not drinking and driving.

 

7.         COMMITTEE REPORTS:

 

7.1       M.S.A.D. No. 75 Harpswell Withdrawal Committee

 

Mrs. Rogers reported that an op-ed piece has been submitted to the Times Record and The Forecaster.  She is interested in pursuing the suggestion Mrs. Carrier made in her resignation statement relative to the formation of a legislative committee to address issues facing the District.  She stated that the Selectmen are interested in repairing damages done during the Withdrawal process.

 

8.         SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT:

 

8.1              Financial report – The financial report was presented by Business Manager Ron Lavender.

 

8.2              Finance Committee – The Finance Committee will hold its initial meeting at 5:30 p.m. prior to the November 16th Board meeting.

 

As Chair of the Finance Committee, Mrs. Totten believes it is advisable to start the process earlier this year, indicating that the results of the vote on TABOR will be known.   She suggested perhaps critiquing last year’s presentations to determine whether they need improving.

 

8.3              TABOR – Superintendent Wilhelm announced he has spoken about TABOR at several PTO meetings.  Topsham Town Manager Gary Brown will host on October 26th at 7:00 p.m. in the Topsham Public Library a joint discussion of TABOR.

 

Dr. Wilhelm noted that the Board Chair is working on an op-ed piece relative to TABOR and that it will be emailed to Board members.

 

8.4              GOALS – Superintendent Wilhelm would like the Board to view a Will Daggett DVD.  This will be placed on an agenda in the near future, and Board members can view the video at that time. 

 

This is related to a District effort to align goals with what we believe about the future for which we are preparing students.

 

8.5       Sports Done Right – The Sports Done Right Committee will meet at 6:00 p.m., October 19th in the District Office.

 

8.6       Facilities Tour – The Board annually tours the District’s facilities prior to the beginning of the budget process.  The date of Monday, October 30th (beginning from the District Office at 7:00 a.m.) was established for this year’s tour.

 

9.         ADJOURNMENT

 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.

 

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