PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MINUTES WILL NOT BE FINAL UNTIL
THE BOARD HAS APPROVED THEM AT ITS NEXT MEETING.
February 15, 2007
The Board of Directors of Maine School Administrative District No. 75 held a regular meeting at Mt. Ararat High School on Thursday, February 15, 2007.
The following Directors were present: Robert W. Hill, Chairman; Maryane Burns; Dorothy Gardner; Sheila Havey; David A. Johnson; Jane Meisenbach; Andrea Naja4rian; Donald A. Russell; Rebekah Stimpson; Gwen Thomas; Kim Totten; and Roland Tufts.
Not present were Dorothy “Dee” Carrier and Joanne Rogers.
Also present was Sam Prindall, student representative to the Board of Directors. Student representative Sara Todd was not present.
1. Call to order
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Hill 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
The following additions to the agenda were noted:
(add to)
3.1 Christopher
Talbot,
(add to New
Business:
6.15 To
accept Amanda Sundeen,
(add to
Superintendent’s Report)
8.5 Harpswell construction legislation
3.1 RECOGNITIONS &
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
√ Class Leadership and Service Seminar, Bree Candland’s CLASS students: Sam Prindall, Kurt Prescott, Emily Freitag, Jennifer Crosby, Deanna Kelly, and Josh Carr – Successful community projects
√ Sue Shaw, Orion Manager – grant award to address bullying through theater
√ MVR
10 Students of the Quarter:
Nicole Pelletier – Marketing
Gabe Garguilo – Automotive Technology
Bailey Gagne – Early Childhood Development
Trevor Giles – English
Heather Desjardins – General Trades
Joel Brown – Landscaping
Nayte Beckwith – Building Trades/Masonry
Tony Poulin – Pre-Apprenticeship Program
√
Bowdoinham Community School:
George Rowe, winner, and Kimberly Leslie, runner-up
West Harpswell School:
Samuel Allen, winner, and Jennifer Merriam, runner-up
Williams-Cone School:
Julian Ireland, winner, and Marissa Wing, runner-up
Woodside Elementary School:
Daniel Pelletier, winner, and Alexandra Parker, runner-up
√ Christopher
Talbot,
4. To take action relative to accepting as printed the minutes of the January 25, 2007, regular meeting and January 31, 2007, special meeting of the Board of Directors
It was moved by Mrs. Gardner, seconded by Ms. Najarian, and VOTED (unanimously of those present, as Mrs. Meisenbach had not yet arrived) to accept as printed the minutes of the January 25, 2007, regular meeting of the Board of Directors.
… Mrs. Meisenbach
arrived.
It was moved by Mr. Tufts, seconded by Mrs. Gardner, and VOTED (733 yeas, 0 nays, 134 absent, and 66 abstentions) to accept as printed the minutes of the January 31, 2007, special meeting of the Board of Directors.
Voting yea were Ms. Burns, Mrs. Gardner, Ms. Havey, Mr. Hill, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Russell, Ms. Stimpson, Ms. Thomas, Mrs. Totten, and Mr. Tufts.
There were no nay votes.
Absent were Mrs. Carrier and Mrs. Rogers.
Abstaining from voting was Ms. Najarian.
5. OLD BUSINESS:
5.1 To consider again the letter to be sent from Dawn Prindall and other community members to State officials regarding the need for renovation/construction at the high school
No objections to this letter were voiced by any Board member.
6. NEW BUSINESS: (some items taken out of order)
6.4 To transfer $23,293 from Account 100-2500-2330-5630-xxx-xxx-90 (tuition) to the middle school special education accounts for teacher salaries and associated benefits and to create a new full-time special education teacher position at The Center to accommodate new students entering the program
It was moved by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mrs. Gardner, and VOTED (unanimously) to transfer $23,293 from Account 100-2500-2330-5630-xxx-xxx-90 (tuition) to the middle school special education accounts for teacher salaries and associated benefits and to create a new full-time special education teacher position at The Center to accommodate new students entering the program.
6.5 To transfer Jennifer Nelson, West Harpswell School Resource Room teacher, to fill the vacant position at The Center
It was moved by Mr. Tufts, seconded by Mr. Johnson, and VOTED (unanimously) to transfer Jennifer Nelson, West Harpswell School Resource Room teacher, to fill the vacant position at The Center.
6.6 To appoint Angela Green to the position of Resource Room teacher at West Harpswell Schoool, at Master’s, Step 9 (prorated) retroactive to February 5, 2007
It was moved by Mrs. Gardner, seconded by Mr. Johnson, and VOTED (unanimously) to appoint Angela Green to the position of Resource Room teacher at West Harpswell School at Master’s, Step 9 (prorated) retroactive to February 5, 2007.
6.12 To
hear a report on the Unity Project at
Principal Brenda Brown introduced Nicole Manganelli of the Center for Prevention of Hate Violence, who presented background on the Center’s mission. Ms. Manganelli introduced students Nicole Giggey and Ian Pinette.
Ms. Manganelli stated that the Unity Project is the Center’s signature project, and middle school students have been trained and assembly programs held.
Ian Pinette
talked about how to prevent behaviors that would hurt feelings of others. He
feels that it very important to stop such behavior. He has noticed students stopping the use of
words like “gay” and “retard” and have witnessed
students standing up for others. When
asked what he liked about the program, he said he liked everything and
indicated it feels good to be better informed.
He said that students are looking back into family history and realizing
where some of their actions originate.
Nicole Giggey said she had learned many things from this experience, especially that it’s important to “talk about it” and become aware of when inappropriate behaviors are about to happen. She expressed the importance of students “sticking up” for others. She said that student leaders are there to help. Nicole stressed the importance of being aware that some behaviors are hurtful and should be avoided.
Ms. Manganelli plans to do follow-up training, hosting a celebration of the United Project, and doing more work with faculty. She will work with students to help them publish a newsletter “for students by students” and will be working with fifth graders before they enter middle school.
6.10 To hear a report from Williams-Cone regarding the school playground project
Tom Saucier read a statement to the Board, outlining the group’s fundraising efforts, in which playgrounds standards (and the current area’s deficiencies) were pointed out.
Ms. Thomas is hopeful that the Board can do something, recognizing the problems of wood playground structures.
Mrs. Totten
clarified that the
Ms. Burns thanked the parents appearing tonight. She hopes to have further discussion of the Board perhaps increasing the typically-awarded $5,000 amount, in light of the recent transaction in which the Highlands purchased a piece of Williams-Cone School property. At the time of that transaction, the Board had considered as one possibility putting back into the school some of the money realized from the transaction.
The group answered affirmatively when Mr. Russell asked whether the project could be done in two phases. Mr. Russell feels that liability issues are very important.
Superintendent Wilhelm suggested the group might approach West Harpswell School Principal Michael Estes so they could learn how that school raised a phenomenal amount of money for its playground renovation.
6.11 To hear a report on the Middle School Alternative Education program
Phil Kerber and Meredith McCabe presented this item. They related the history four years ago of struggling to meet the needs (behavioral, academic and social) of students who are now successful in the Program.
The Student Assistance Team identifies appropriate students for this program. The program results in greater success and a “sense of themselves” for students in the program.
Mr. Kerber
displayed news articles, posters, journal entries and digital photos of
students working on projects. They
learned math applications on the project.
Mr. Kerber is taking two students to USM in
March to present the service learning proposal to a large audience. The students have produced field guides,
constructed wood duck nesting, visited an ethnic restaurant, planted bulbs, and
learned empathy in working with Woodside’s Functional Life Skills class. They also play cribbage with some of the
residents of the
Mr. Hill stated he is impressed with the depth and breadth of the program and asked the procedure of determining whether the students continue with the high school alternative education program. Ms. McCabe stated that each child has an action plan to determine the appropriateness of the high school program, and Principal Brown confirmed that the program’s goal is for these students not to be lifelong alternative education students.
6.14 To hear an update on consolidation legislation from District Legislators
Paula Benoit, Leila Percy and Beth Edmonds were present.
Legislators reported that he Education Committee will craft its own bill which will go to the Appropriations Committee. Ms. Edmonds stated that collaboration and consolidation will occur. The Education Committee has established March 8th as its deadline. The legislators were thanked for being present and invited back to another Board meeting.
8.5 Harpswell construction legislation
Senator Beth Edmonds stated that the bill has not yet been printed and that she has offered to explain it to Harpswell.
Ms. Najarian thanked Mrs. Edmonds for her update and asked that the Board be notified when the bill is printed.
6.1 To
consider a request from Jennifer
Johnson,
It was moved by Mrs. Totten, seconded by Mr. Tufts, and VOTED (unanimously) to grant a request from Jennifer Johnson,
6.2 To
acknowledge the intended retirement of Luana Smith,
The intended retirement of Luana Smith,
6.3 To acknowledge the intended retirement of Michael Barrett, Woodside Elementary School Guidance Counselor, effective August 31, 2007
The intended retirement of Michael Barrett, Woodside Elementary
School Guidance Counselor, effective August 31, 2007, was DULY ACKNOWLEDGED.
6.7 To accept the resignation of Erika Stump, Mt. Ararat High School English teacher, effective immediately
It was moved by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mrs. Gardner, and VOTED (unanimously) to accept the resignation of Erika Stump, Mt. Ararat High School English teacher, effective immediately. {Ms. Stump is on a year’s leave of absence and has decided not to return to her position.}
6.8 To accept the resignation of Pat Red, Behavioral Specialist, effective immediately
It was moved by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mrs. Gardner, and VOTED (unanimously) to accept the resignation of Pat Red, Behavioral Specialist, effective immediately. {Ms. Red is on a second year’s leave of absence and has decided not to return to her position.}
6.9 To
accept the resignation of Jessica Koubek,
It was moved by Ms. Burns, seconded
by Mr. Johnson, and VOTED (unanimously) to
accept the resignation of Jessica Koubek,
Chairman Hill asked (of those teachers on leaves of absence) whether more resign than return to their former positions. Superintendent Wilhelm estimated it’s probably “50-50” and reminded Board members that without the opportunity for sabbaticals or programs such as the Diamond Grants program, allowing teachers to take leaves of absence without pay is the only opportunity the Board has to allow teachers some opportunity for time off.
6.13 To authorize the Superintendent of Schools to issue a Request for
Qualifications for a Performance
Contract for energy savings and air quality improvement under Title 20-A MRSA,
Part 7, Chapter 609, Section 15915
Business Manager Ron Lavender told Board members that this item is a jointly-approached, savings-driven initiative, the cost of which will be funded by savings realized (similar to the Energy Education program).
He cited various arenas in which the goals of the venture can be realized.
It was moved by Mr. Tufts, seconded by Ms. Burns, and VOTED (unanimously) to authorize the Superintendent of Schools to issue a Request for Qualifications for a Performance Contract for energy savings and air quality improvement under Title 20-A MRSA, Part 7, Chapter 609, Section 15915.
6.15 To
accept Amanda Sundeen,
The acceptance of this student has been approved by the high school administration.
It was moved by Mrs. Gardner,
seconded by Mr. Johnson, and VOTED
(unanimously) to accept Amanda Sundeen,
7. COMMITTEE
REPORTS:
7.1 Finance Committee/Board workshop
Mrs. Totten reported that the February 5th meeting heard presentations on curriculum, food service, and technology.
She briefly reported on this evening’s meeting at which fund balance and reporting summer salaries were discussed.
8. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT:
8.1 Financial report – Business Manager Ron Lavender reported that the course reimbursement line has been completely expended and that an estimated $50,000 from contingency will be requested at a later date.
8.2 Correspondence – Board members had received a copy of correspondence from former Commission of Education Duke Albanese to Principal Craig King complimentary of the high school’s SAT scores.
8.3 To hear a report from the Superintendent on 2007-2008 budget issues – Superintendent Wilhelm briefly reported on issues impacting the 2007-2008 budget.
8.4 Superintendent’s PowerPoint – Superintendent Wilhelm deferred this presentation until the next meeting.
8.5 Harpswell construction legislation – In addition to the report from Beth Edmonds, Superintendent Wilhelm indicated that Harpswell is considering hiring a lobbyist to pursue this legislation.
9. ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
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