PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MINUTES WILL NOT BE FINAL UNTIL
THE BOARD HAS APPROVED THEM AT ITS NEXT MEETING.
November 1, 2007
The Board of Directors of
The following Directors were
present: Kim Totten, Chair; Maryane
Burns; Dorothy “Dee” Carrier; Dorothy Gardner; Sheila Havey; Robert W. Hill;
David Johnson; Jane Meisenbach; Joanne Reinhart; Joanne Rogers; Donald A.
Russell; and Roland Tufts.
Not present were Rebekah Stimpson
and Gwen Thomas.
Also present was Lisa Rogers,
student representative to the Board of Directors. Sam Prindall was not present.
1. Call to order
The meeting was
called to order by Chairman Totten at 6:30 p. m.
2. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
Those present
recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
3. To consider action relative to additions or adjustments to the agenda
and to ask for comments from the audience
Adjustments to the agenda were
noted, as listed below, and integrated appropriately into the agenda.
Add to 3.1 Recognitions & Acknowledgements:
Ø Boys
and Girls varsity soccer teams –
4. Table action on minutes of October 11, 2007, meeting of the Board
Add 6.5a:
To accept the resignation of William Congdon, Elementary Technology
Support Leader, effective October 23, 2007
Add 6.6:
To add an Educational Technician
III at Williams-Cone School to support Grade 5
Add 6.7:
To acknowledge a letter of intent
to negotiate from the Merrymeeting Teachers Association
3.1 RECOGNITIONS
& ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Ø Welcome
from Michael Estes, Principal of
Ø Elliot
Bowie, Anna Manuel, Sabrina Paetow and Jake Steinman – Third grade artists from Woodside Elementary School honored at the
State House in the Maine Youth Excellence in Art Project
Ø Westcott
Gail – Recognized by the National
Achievement Scholarship Program as a 2008 Outstanding Participant
Ø Corey
Ogilby – Recognized by the National Council
of Teachers of English for superior performance in writing
Ø
Ø Wesley
Pelletier – Recognized by the National Merit
Scholarship Program with a Letter of Commendation for outstanding performance
on the National Merit Qualifying test
Ø Jenna
Bowley, Connor Fitzsimmons, Westcott Gail, Kurt Prescott, Stephanie Hunt and
Dylan Stellpflug --- Mt. Ararat High School
students “exceeding the standards” in
all three categories on the SAT, forming the basis for the District’s AYP
determination
Ø Varsity
Golf Team – KVAC Champions
Ø Michele
Aronson, 4th grade teacher at Woodside Elementary School Recognized by the
Southern Maine Writing Project as an official Teacher-Consultant
Ø Boys
and Girls varsity soccer teams –
4. To take action relative to accepting as printed the minutes of the
October 11, 2007, regular meeting of the Board of Directors
The minutes had been tabled,
pending a correction requested to be made by the recorder.
5. OLD BUSINESS:
5.1 To consider language changes in
the
Superintendent
Wilhelm noted that questions regarding the Policy’s language arose at the
beginning of the year, and administration soon realized that the language was
not as clear as it could be.
It was moved by Mrs.
Rogers and seconded by Mr. Hill to approval language changes in the
… At 6:40 p.m. Mr. Russell
arrived.
Following further
discussion, the motion was withdrawn.
Superintendent Wilhelm noted that the language will be further re-tooled
and brought back to the Board.
5.2 To determine the District’s
direction toward consolidation, given the options to pursue consolidation with
Superintendent
Wilhelm reported on the October 18th Board workshop. With more than 2,500 students the District
has the ability to stand alone or merge with another system. On December 1st a plan to
reorganize (or progress made toward that goal) must be submitted to the State. The Board needs to make a decision on the
direction it wants to take.
Mrs. Rogers
advocates continuing talks with Lisbon, pointing out that M.S.A.D. No. 75 would
not lose an elementary school, feeling that consolidation with
Mr. Hill supports
consolidating with Lisbon, as he feels it will result in saving taxpayers
money.
Mrs. Gardner prefers
hearing talk of maintaining “people,” not “positions.”
Mrs. Totten feels
that
It was moved by Mrs.
Rogers, seconded by Mrs. Carrier, and VOTED
(unanimously) to consider consolidation with
5.3 To set a stipend amount for the
Envirothon Advisor position established at the October 11, 2007, Board meeting
It was moved by Mrs.
Carrier, seconded by Mr. Johnson, and VOTED
(unanimously) to set at 6% of the base salary a stipend amount for the
Envirothon Advisor position established at the October 11, 2007, Board meeting.
6. NEW BUSINESS:
6.6 To add an Educational Technician
III at
Superintendent
Wilhelm noted that parents had come forward with a request for help with
classroom behavior. A meeting was held
with the Principal, Patrick Moore and Jennifer Cotreau to establish a
resolution to meet students’ needs.
The Ed Tech assigned
to the two fifth grades had been re-deployed to serve new incoming students in
need of special services.
Mrs. Rogers asked
whether there were any other District classrooms at the same level. Superintendent Wilhelm stated that two
Kindergarten sessions at Bowdoin Central have had an Ed Tech added to it. He said there might be a similar situation at
Woodside, with class enrollments of 23.
He pointed out that the Williams-Cone scenario is not just about numbers,
but said there are other issues.
Principal Otis
Thompson believes the situation is compounded by a combination of academic and
behavioral issues which need addressing, in attempting to attain a better level
of function in the classrooms.
Mrs. Havey asked Mr.
Thompson if he couldn’t consider adding a fifth grade teacher next year, and Mr.
Thompson indicated this is not something he can request at this time.
It was moved by Ms.
Burns and seconded by Mrs. Rogers to add an Educational Technician III at
Parent Robin Brooks feels that learning isn’t “happening.”
Parent Hannah
Beattie estimates the special education population of these classes to be 50%
of the enrollment and feels learning objectives aren’t being met. She wants attention paid to her child when
she needs it. She also cited Marianne Warner’s
upcoming medical leave, which Mr. Thompson said would only be 7 ½ days in
length.
Parent Tom Burrill
supports adding a teacher and inquired about use of contingency. He recognizes budget constraints but implored
the Board to take the extra step and add a teacher for the next seven
months. He related that some children
feel they will be unprepared for middle school.
Ms. Burns asked the
cost of adding an Ed Tech, and Business Manager Ron Lavender said it would be
$17,092 and that a teacher’s prorated salary for the remainder of the year would
be twice that and would need to be taken from contingency.
Mr. Hill is concerned about making a decision without more
information.
Ms. Havey feels that
this is a very chaotic situation students are facing and told the Board it
could take a proactive stance and recommend hiring a teacher, instead of the
stop-gap measure of hiring an Ed Tech.
Ms. Burns supports
Mr. Thompson’s recommendation and hopes he returns to request more if this
remedy doesn’t help.
Mrs. Totten supports
adding an Ed Tech and feels that the class size guidelines are well thought out
and that in this instance, an additional teacher is not warranted.
Mrs. Reinhart asked
the probability of the Ed Tech going “awry,” and Superintendent Wilhelm said
this position would be dedicated to working with the students.
It was moved by Mrs.
Carrier and seconded by Mrs. Rogers to amend the motion to note that the costs
of an additional Ed Tech would come from the contingency account.
The amended motion
made by Ms. Burns and seconded by Mrs. Rogers to add an Educational Technician
III at Williams-Cone School to support Grade 5, costs to be taken from the
contingency account, was VOTED (799
yeas, 66 nays, 0 abstentions, and 135 absent).
Voting yea were
Ms. Burns, Mrs. Carrier, Mrs. Gardner,
Ms. Havey, Mr. Hill, Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Meisenbach, Mrs. Rogers, Mr. Russell,
Kim Totten, and Mr. Tufts.
Voting nay was Mrs. Reinhart.
There were no abstentions.
Absent were Ms. Stimpson and Ms. Thomas.
6.1 To reduce the contract of Seth Berry, Gifted & Talented
teacher, to 146 days, to account for the time Mr.
It was moved by Mrs.
Gardner, seconded by Mr. Johnson, and VOTED
(unanimously) to reduce the contract of Seth Berry, Gifted & Talented teacher, to 146 days, to account
for the time Mr.
6.2 To consider a request to provide
high school credit for student participation in an intern program for juniors
and seniors and to create a stipend position (Category 7) to oversee the
program funded by the recently-received Maine Community Foundation Grant
It was moved by Mrs.
Carrier and seconded by Mrs. Gardner to approve a request to provide high
school credit for student participation in an intern program for juniors and
seniors and to create a stipend position (Category 7) to oversee the program
funded by the recently-received
It was moved by Mrs.
Rogers and seconded by Mr. Tufts to amend the motion to include that the
stipend will be negotiated and costs taken from contingency.
The amended motion
made by Mrs. Carrier and seconded by Mrs. Gardner to approve a request to
provide high school credit for student participation in an intern program for
juniors and seniors and to create a stipend position (Category 7) to over the
program funded by the recently-received Maine Community Foundation Grant, and
that the stipend will be negotiated and costs taken from contingency.
6.3 To
hear reports on the MSMA Conference from Board attendees
Mrs. Rogers attended
most of the consolidation meetings, to which she felt there were more questions
than answers.
Mrs. Gardner attended workshops on special education.
Mr. Hill echoed Mrs.
Rogers’ comments. He added that all the
resolutions passed at the Delegate Assembly.
Mrs. Totten attended
the construction workshop, learning that if systems don’t consolidate they will
lose ten points on the rating scale, noting that no new applications for school
renovation/construction will be accepted until 2009.
Mrs. Meisenbach
attended sessions with the Commissioner and left feeling there were many
questions but not many answers.
6.4
To revise the FY 07-08 budget to
provide funds in a contracted services account in the amount of $22,000 to fund
the Jobs for Maine Graduates (JMG) Program using funds from the teacher salary
and associated benefits accounts that were budgeted for a locally-developed program
that the JMG Program has now replaced
It was moved by Mrs.
Rogers, seconded by Mrs. Gardner, and VOTED
(unanimously) to revise the F 07-08 budget to provide funds in a contracted
services account in the amount of $22,000 to fund the Jobs for Maine Graduates
(JMG) Program using funds from the teacher salary and associated benefits
accounts that were budgeted for a locally-developed program that the JMG
Program has now replaced.
6.5
To accept the resignation of Michael Baker, Technology Director,
effective November 23, 2007
Superintendent
Wilhelm noted that Mike Baker started with the District in 1998, as an
Educational Technician and that he is wished well. Mr. Hill appreciated his direct approach.
It was moved by Mrs.
Carrier, seconded by Mrs. Rogers, and VOTED
(unanimously) to accept the resignation of Michael Baker, Technology Director, effective November 23, 2007.
6.5a To accept the resignation of William Congdon, Elementary Technology
Support Leader, effective October 23, 2007
It was moved by Mr.
Johnson, seconded by Mr. Hill, and VOTED
(unanimously) to accept the resignation of William Congdon, Elementary Technology Support Leader, effective
October 23, 2007.
7. COMMITTEE REPORTS:
7.1 Reorganization Planning
Committee – Mr. Hill noted that the RPC continues to meet and that the meetings
are going well.
7.2 MVR 10 Cooperative Board – Mr. Johnson reported on the October 17th
meeting.
7.3 Curriculum Committee – The
Curriculum Committee met prior to this evening’s meeting, and Mr. Hill reported
that the conversation was framed around Board goals.
7.4 Facilities tour – The
annual tour of District facilities took place on October 22nd. Mr. Russell is impressed that code
violations are being addressed and is impressed with the degree to which
building principals are completing these tasks.
Mrs.
Reinhart found the tour very beneficial.
Mrs. Carrier asked
the Facilities Committee to stay after adjournment of this meeting to set a
future meeting date.
8. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT:
8.1 Letter from Eileen King –
8.2 Letter from Susan Gendron –
Commissioner Gendron has communicated with Superintendent Wilhelm regarding the
District’s filing of alternative plans for reorganization.
8.3 Human Resources newsletter – Board
members had received the latest newsletter.
8.4 NEASC visit – Principal King
reported that the high school staff felt good after the Visiting Team’s “report
out.” Chairman Totten said that a draft
report would be received in about six weeks and the final one in June 2008.
8.5 Update on Sports Done Right – Board
members received copies of the contract middle school parents receive. Mr. Hill said it would be useful to have the
parent and the student sign it. Superintendent Wilhelm and Sandy Bickford,
Middle School Athletic Director, would be willing to return to the Board to
talk about the challenges of Sports Done Right cited by coaches as being
concerns.
8.6 Times Record article of October 16th
– Board members had been provided copies of this article about activities in
Steve Howe’s Bowdoinham classroom.
9. ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting was declared adjourned
at 8:15 p.m.
/bb/agenda110107