PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MINUTES WILL NOT BE FINAL UNTIL
THE BOARD HAS APPROVED THEM AT ITS NEXT MEETING.
November 15, 2007
The Board of Directors of
The following Directors were
present: Kim Totten, Chair; Maryane
Burns; Dorothy “Dee” Carrier; Dorothy Gardner; Robert W. Hill; David Johnson;
Scott McKernan; Jane Meisenbach; Joanne Reinhart; Joanne Rogers; Donald A.
Russell; Rebekah Stimpson; Gwen Thomas; and Roland Tufts.
Also present was Lisa Rogers,
student representative to the Board of Directors. Student representative 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.
4. Table
action on minutes of November 1st meeting
5.4 To enter executive session to discuss a personnel matter as
allowed by 1 M.R.S.A. Section 405 (6)(A)
3.1
RECOGNITIONS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Ø Sheila
Havey was presented a token of
appreciation for her service as a member of the Board of Directors.
Ø Welcome
from Otis Thompson, Principal of
Ø Welcome
Scott McKernan – new Topsham representative to the
Board of Directors
Ø Michael
Donahue Hanscom – the successful completion of his
Eagle Scout project
Ø
Ø The
American Legion Emerson and Lane Post 132 – a generous donation
to
Ø
4. To take action relative to accepting as printed the minutes of the
October 11, 2007 (tabled) and November 1, 2007, regular meetings of the Board
of Directors
The
November 1st minutes had been tabled.
It was moved by Mrs. Carrier, seconded by Mr. Johnson, and
VOTED (856 yeas, 0 nays, 77 abstentions,
and 67 absent, as Mrs. Meisenbach had not yet arrived) to accept as printed
the minutes of the October 11, 2007, regular meeting of the Board of Directors.
Voting yea were Ms. Burns, Mrs.
Carrier, Mrs. Gardner, Mr. Hill, Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Reinhart, Mrs. Rogers, Mr.
Russell, Ms. Stimpson, Ms. Thomas, Mrs. Totten, and Mr. Tufts.
There were no nay votes.
Abstaining from voting was Mr.
McKernan.
Absent when the vote was taken was
Mrs. Meisenbach.
6.1 (taken out of order) To appoint Debra Anderson to a one-year contract
for the position of Human Resources Director, effective November 19, 2007
It was moved by Mrs.
Carrier, seconded by Mr. Johnson, and VOTED
(unanimously) to appoint Debra
Anderson to a one-year contract for the position of Human Resources
Director, effective November 19, 2007.
5.3 (taken out of order) To enter executive
session as prescribed by 1 M.R.S.A. Section 405 (6) (E) to discuss a legal
matter
At 6:37 p.m. it was
moved by Mr. Hill, seconded by Mrs. Rogers, and VOTED (unanimously) to enter executive session as prescribed by 1
M.R.S.A. Section 405 (6) (E) to discuss a legal matter, and to stipulate that
Ron Lavender be present.
… At
6:40 p.m. Mrs. Meisenbach arrived and entered the executive session.
The executive
session ended at 6:50 p.m.; and the Board reconvened its open session.
6.4
(taken out of order) To hear a status report on the District’s Service Learning initiative
Assistant
Superintendent Sally Loughlin and resident Steve Spaeth presented an overview
of the District’s Service Learning initiative
Ms. Loughlin stated
that data reveals that students performing service learning are less likely to
engage in certain behaviors. She
indicated that all grade levels – not just high school and college-bound –
could be engaged. The District has two
grants to support service learning – one at the high school and another for the
whole District. At this year’s new
teacher orientation, training service learning was held.
As a professor in
the Education Department of
5. OLD BUSINESS:
5.1
To hear a report from Chris Shaw on the progress of the
Performance Contract
Facilities Director
Chris Shaw presented written information relative to the Performance
Contract. This winter there will be a
detailed walk-through of schools for the purpose of compiling a list of
possible retrofit projects. Mr. Shaw
stated that the District is saving more than it had originally thought it
would.
5.2 To consider language changes to the high school attendance policy
Specific language in
the policy had been re-worked since the November 1st Board meeting,
and the new language had been forwarded to Board members for consideration.
It was moved by Mrs.
Rogers, seconded by Mrs. Gardner, and VOTED
(unanimously) approve language changes to the high school attendance
policy.
5.4 (added to agenda) To enter executive session to discuss a personnel matter as allowed by
1 M.R.SA. Section 405 (6)(A)
This
item will be addressed at the end of the agenda.
6. NEW BUSINESS:
6.2 To hear an update on the work of
the Reorganization Planning Committee and to consider the submission of a
progress report to the Commissioner by December 1, 2007
Mr. Hill reported
that a press release has been recently issued relative to this process. He cited much misinformation and assumptions
being presented which are untrue. A
package of FAQ’s will be developed relative to the Reorganization Plan.
Public hearings will
be held before the referendum to approve the Plan. Mr. Hill is concerned that the RPC is not
hearing what residents’ concerns are.
Mr. Russell believes
that the breakout of the committees (during the RPC) may be keeping the public
away from the meetings. He feels that
the format as it is used will not garner public participation.
Mrs. Totten suggested
that questions or concerns be submitted to the RPC and that they would be
assigned to the appropriate committee for research and answers.
Ms. Burns related a
comment made to her by a friend who resides at the
She suggested
sending information home to parents in communications (newsletters) which would
already be going home with students.
Superintendent
Wilhelm suggested that the Co-chairs present on camera at the end of each
meeting a re-cap of the meeting. Mrs.
Rogers wondered if a call-in show could be done via Harpswell TV.
Mr. McKernan
supports the on-camera summarization of the meetings. He suggested also that it might be good to
specifically solicit input to get the public’s sentiment.
It was moved by Mrs.
Rogers, seconded by Mrs. Gardner, and VOTED
(unanimously) to authorize the submission of a progress report to the
Commissioner by December 1, 2007.
6.3 To consider creating the position
of a Special Education Educational Technician III for West Harpswell School to
commence on November 14, 2007, with an amount of $17,092 for wages and benefits
to be taken from the contingency account
It was moved by Mrs.
Gardner, seconded by Mrs. Rogers, and VOTED
(unanimously) to create the position of a Special Education Educational
Technician III for West Harpswell School to commence on November 14, 2007, with
an amount of $17,092 for wages and benefits to be taken from the contingency
account.
7. COMMITTEE REPORTS:
7.1 Facilities Committee – Mrs.
Carrier reported on the November 8th meeting of the Facilities
Committee.
8. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT:
8.1 Financial report – Business Manager Ron Lavender presented this
report.
8.2 Mentoring statistics –
Superintendent Wilhelm reported fantastic growth in the mentoring program. The entire
8.3 Professional negotiations –
Superintendent Wilhelm will contact the Association to set a date for a meeting
prior to beginning negotiations.
8.4 The District’s legislators will be
invited to the next Board meeting.
5.3 (taken out of order) To enter executive session to discuss a personnel matter as allowed by
1 M.R.S.A. Section 405 (6)(A)
At 7:55 p.m. it was
moved by Mrs. Carrier, seconded by Mrs. Gardner, and VOTED (unanimously) to enter executive session to discuss a
personnel matter as allowed by 1 M.R.S.A. Section 405 (6)(A). (Lisa Rogers was excused.)
The executive
session ended at 8:20 p.m.
It was moved by Mrs.
Rogers, seconded by Mrs. Gardner, and VOTED
(unanimously) to resolve the grievance under the terms outlined by the
Superintendent.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was
adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
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