PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MINUTES WILL NOT BE FINAL
UNTIL
THE
BOARD HAS APPROVED THEM AT ITS NEXT MEETING.
April
26, 2007
The Board of Directors of
The following Directors were present: Robert W. Hill, Chairman; Maryane Burns;
Dorothy “Dee” Carrier; Dorothy Gardner; Sheila Havey; David A. Johnson; Jane
Meisenbach; Joanne Rogers; Donald A.
Russell; Rebekah Stimpson; Kim Totten; and Roland Tufts.
Not present were Andrea Najarian and Gwen Thomas.
Also present were Sam Prindall and Sara Todd,
student representatives to the Board of Directors.
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
Agenda adjustments were noted as follows and
integrated appropriately into the agenda.
4.
Table action on minutes of April 19, 2007, meeting
6.7 To accept
the resignation of Sarah Morrill, .5
FTE Title I teacher at Woodside Elementary School, effective at the conclusion
of the 2006-2007 school year
Due to prior commitments of those making
presentations, some items were taken out of order.
6.5 To hear a
recommendation from the Facilities Committee regarding a transfer of property
to the Town of
Mrs. Carrier stated that the
Facilities Committee highly recommends this transfer.
It was moved by Mrs. Rogers, seconded
by Mrs. Gardner, and VOTED (unanimously
of those present, as Mrs. Meisenbach had not yet arrived) to transfer the
described additional small piece of property to the Town of Topsham {with the
Town of Topsham accepting ownership of Pejepscot School}.
Mr. Johnson reminded the Board that
the just-transferred piece of property is owned by all four towns of the
District and that this action continues to demonstrate that the towns of the
District are “good neighbors.”
Outgoing Topsham Town Manager Gary
Brown asked to address the Board and thanked the Board for the action it just
took in agreeing to transfer the additional piece of M.S.A.D. No. 75-owned
property to the Town. He noted that he
is impressed by the way the M.S.A.D. No. 75 Board of Directors operates and has
seen how the Board “clicks.” Mr. Brown
stated that Mrs. Carrier and Mrs. Rogers had earned the respect of the Topsham
Board of Selectmen, with their service on the Withdrawal Negotiations
Committee. Stating that he has worked
for soon-to-be his fifth community {as he prepares to become
Elinor “Ellie” Multer, past member of
the M.S.A.D. No. 75 Board of Directors and currently a member of the State
Board of Education, brought to Board members’ attention “An Analysis of
Construction of Small Schools vs. Larger Schools.” In attempting to answer Board members’
concerns about the District’s inability to move high enough up on the State’s
construction priority list to renovate the high school, she noted that certain
parts of a school do not “grow” with the school population. She sympathizes with the Board’s frustrations
to see larger projects get “bumped” up on the list, citing one case in which
the State Board opted to replace four “little, dilapidated schools” with one
large one.
Referring to the District’s repeated
efforts to obtain funding for a renovation of Mt. Ararat High School, Chairman
Hill noted that it’s not so much the plant {which drives the quest for funding}
but the poor educational functionality of the building. Ms. Multer noted that Scott Brown, Director
of School Facilities for the State, feels it is not a small thing which will
help {the situation at the high school} but a major reconstruction.
3.1 RECOGNITIONS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Ø Moment of silence in memory of Megan
Sisto
Ø Glen
Evans, Cheri Towle and Mt. Ararat High School Science Olympiad Teams – Second
place in the annual Science Olympiad
Ø Cheri Towle and Rebecca Williams – a
successful science fair
Ø Sally
Loughlin, Assistant Superintendent – a successful NCLB audit
Ø Woodside
Destination Imagination Team {4th graders Grier Osterman, Daniel
Pelletier & Andrew McCracken; 3rd grader Sam
Ø Winter Sports Awards
Recipients
of Winter Sports Awards were announced.
Coach’s Awards
Dale
Morgan – varsity boys basketball Justin
Stimpson – varsity hockey
Cooper
Jones – freshman boys basketball Scott
Dumas – JV hockey
Alex
Titcomb – JV boys basketball Jenna Herrick – girls swim & dive
Amelia
Lamb – varsity girls basketball Andrew Streeter – boys swim & dive
Fiona
Duncan – JV girls basketball Chelsea
Allen – girls indoor track
Haley LaPointe – freshman girls basketball Dan MacKenzie – boys indoor track
Samantha
Anderson – varsity cheering Theo
Marshall – varsity wrestling
Christian
Swanholm – boys Nordic skiing Cody Mauro
– JV wrestling
Linnea
Tilberg – girls Nordic skiing
Outstanding Senior
Henry
McCorkle – varsity boys basketball Erica
Woods – girls indoor track
Jessica
Stahl – varsity girls basketball Patrick O’Neill – boys indoor track
Ben Cox – varsity wrestling Rachael
Knight – varsity cheering
Josh
Bailey – varsity hockey Erik
Brooks – boys Nordic skiing
Katie
Dumas – girls swim & dive
KVAC all-academic recognition
Erik
Brooks – Nordic skiing Joshua
Bailey – ice hockey
Jacky
Ducharme – swim Aaron
Leaver - basketball
Brook Vail – swim Erica
Woods – indoor track
Joshua
Bailey
KVAC All-Conference Recognition
Jack
Burnham – swim Matt Pierce – indoor track
Emily
Wytas – diving Mike Rinaldi – indoor track
Ben Cox – wrestling Alex Robinson – indoor track
Chelsea
Goodwin – cheering Zach
Thornton – indoor track
Michelle
Prevost – cheering Tory
Bagwell – indoor track
Kayla True
– cheering Christina Erving – indoor track
Shawn
Dostie – basketball Erin Fitzsimmons – indoor track
Aaron
Leaver – basketball Katrina Gelwick – indoor track
Jessica
Stahl – basketball Rebecca Merritt – indoor track
Nick
Dempsey – indoor track Megan St. Laurent – indoor track
Luc Pham –
indoor track Erica Woods – indoor track
4. To take
action relative to accepting as printed the minutes of the March 22, 2007, and
April 19, 2007, regular meetings of the Board of Directors
It was moved by Mrs. Carrier, seconded by Mrs. Gardner,
and VOTED (731 yeas, 0 nays, 67
abstentions, and 202 absent) to accept as printed the minutes of the March
22, 2007, regular meeting of the Board of Directors.
Voting yea were Ms. Burns, Mrs. Carrier, Mrs.
Gardner, Ms. Havey, Mr. Hill, Ms. Najarian,
Mrs. Rogers, Mr. Russell, Mrs. Totten, and Mr. Tufts.
There were no nay votes.
Abstaining from voting was Mr. Johnson.
Absent were Mrs. Meisenbach (who had not yet
arrived); Ms. Najarian and Ms. Thomas.
Action on the minutes of the April 19, 2007, meeting
was deferred until the next meeting.
5. OLD
BUSINESS:
6. NEW
BUSINESS:
6.1 To discuss
with legal counsel the Board’s option regarding LD 1953
In reporting on the April 23rd
meeting with Harpswell officials, Board members and legislators, Superintendent
Wilhelm concluded that the course of action to take is a political one --- that
the situation cannot be rectified through a lawsuit. Senator Beth Edmonds is going to do what she
can, with Representatives Leila Percy and Seth Berry working with her.
6.2 To
hear a request from Brenda French, Harpswell
Islands School Principal, for Board support for a new playground
Historically, the Board of Directors
has supported playground projects in the amount of $5,000. Citing inflation costs, Ms. Havey questioned
whether it would be possible to increase that amount to $7,500. The question was asked and answered that the
Board has not yet donated $5,000 to each of the schools for playground
renovation. Mrs. Rogers stated she could
not support increasing the amount until the Board has “gone the complete round”
of donating the same amount to each school.
Business Manager Ron Lavender told
the Board that it has donated to Bowdoin Central, Bowdoinham Community and
Ms. Havey
said that giving $5,000 doesn’t cover the costs of inflation and feels that (in
light of inflation)
Ms. Burns has advocated for
increasing the amount committed by the Board and feels there’s value to the
concept of looking at a playground as part of a school’s equipment. She cited the increasing pressure on parents
to fundraise.
Chairman Hill suggested that the
Facilities Committee could study the practice {of committing $5,000 to
playground renovation} to formulate a plan for distributing monies equitably.
It was moved by Mrs. Carrier,
seconded by Mrs. Rogers, and VOTED
(unanimously of those present, as Mrs. Meisenbach had not yet arrived) that
the Board make a contribution of $5,000 to
6.3 To
hear a proposal from Colin Roy, high
school Athletic Director, for the use of gate receipts for athletic facility
improvements
For a cost of $76,727, Colin Roy
proposes utilizing gate receipts to purchase one (48 feet long, 10 row high) elevated bleacher unit for
installation on the main athletic field; purchase two (24 feet long, 10 row high) transportable bleacher systems; and
purchase three (15 feet long, 8 row high) portable bleachers.
It was moved by Mrs. Carrier,
seconded by Mrs. Rogers, and VOTED
(unanimously of those present, as Mrs. Meisenbach had not yet arrived) to
approve a proposal {as outlined above and recommended by the Facilities
Committee} from Colin Roy, high
school athletic director, for the use of gate receipts for athletic facility
improvements.
... Mrs.
Meisenbach arrived at 7:10 p.m.
6.4 To hear a
proposal from the Facilities Committee to create a committee to explore the
creation of a new playing field for the District
Mrs. Carrier opened the discussion by
offering this proposal as a “heads up” to investigate whether, what type and
how to fund a new field, in the event the District is successful in its
application for approval of state funding for renovations to the high school.
Mrs. Carrier envisions the committee
including community
people, students, athletic directors and coaches, with a recommendation
forthcoming in a year and a year and a half.
Mr. Johnson stated there’s the
possibility of losing a playing field, if renovations to the high school come
to fruition.
It was moved by Ms. Burns, seconded
by Mrs. Rogers, and VOTED (unanimously) to
approve a proposal from the Facilities Committee to create a committee to
explore the creation of a new playing field for the District.
6.5 To hear a
recommendation from the Facilities Committee regarding a transfer of property
to the Town of
This
item had been addressed earlier in the meeting.
6.6 To
discuss the Board’s options for application to the LRA for Topsham Navy Annex
property
Mr. Roedner reminded the Board that
it has to indicate the property it desires, in preparation for
a June 20th presentation when applicants will “make their
case.” He cited a proposal made at an
LRA workshop when it was suggested the District acquire the so-call “military
triangle” for use in construction of a new high school, and the Town would take
over the “old” high school to house “community services.”
Mr. Roedner noted that all current
occupants of Annex property will be gone by 2011 and that the Commissary will
likely close. Chairman Hill stated that
the LRA’s position is that M.S.A.D. No. 75 is a major stakeholder and that the
Board’s thoughts will carry considerable weight in any decisions made regarding
disposition of property. Mr. Russell
cautioned that there’s no guarantee of obtaining property we request and that
the federal government will have final say.
Ms. Burns asked what other interest
has been expressed in obtaining the property.
Mr. Roedner indicated a party is interested in the old veterinary clinic
and that a decision is pending on whether the former fire station and substation
will be requested for use. Superintendent Wilhelm noted that renovation
and re-use of many of the Annex’s structures would be impacted by the costs of
asbestos abatement.
In answer to a question by Chairman
Hill, Mr. Roedner indicated that if costs of remediation are to be
considerable, the costs of public conveyance of property would be
discounted.
Superintendent Wilhelm expressed his
opinion that at the very least the Board should be looking at some of the land
which will become available.
Mrs. Carrier expressed her skepticism
at the so-called “triangle,” believing that costs of asbestos abatement and
maintenance would be prohibitive. Mrs.
Carrier suggested that the Board consider the upper portion of the housing
area, which is adjacent to the District’s playing fields. The management company for the housing units
(GMH) will not be demolishing or renovating any more units, as the company will
disassociate itself from leasing any of the units.
It was moved by Mrs. Rogers and
seconded by Mrs. Gardner to instruct the Superintendent to make application {to
the LRA for Topsham Navy Annex property} for open areas {beyond housing} of
property he has described and designated and also for the parking lot of the
Commissary.
Ms. Stimpson asked why the Board doesn’t make application
for the Commissary {building}, and own the building and lease it to community
organizations.
Chairman Hill noted numerous issues
with that building. Superintendent
Wilhelm offered to have Facilities Director Chris Shaw look at the building and
develop an estimated total cost of ownership of the Commissary. Mr. Roedner noted that he has documentation
of conditions of all the buildings.
Ms.
Burns asked if the District owns enough property build another high
school. Mrs. Carrier said there’s sufficient
land on which to build, but that the District would lose a practice field.
Mrs. Rogers respectfully declined to
amend her motion.
The motion made by Mrs. Rogers and
seconded by Mrs. Gardner to instruct the Superintendent to make application {to
the LRA for Topsham Navy Annex property} for open areas {beyond housing} of
property he has described and designated and also for the parking lot of the
Commissary was VOTED (711 yeas, 0 nays,
154 abstentions, and 135 absent).
Voting yea were Ms. Burns, Ms.
Carrier, Mrs. Gardner, Ms. Havey, Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Meisenbach, Mrs. Rogers,
Ms. Stimpson, Mrs. Totten and Mr. Tufts.
There were no nay votes.
Abstaining from voting were Mr. Hill
and Mr. Russell.
Absent were Ms. Najarian and Ms.
Thomas.
6.7 To accept
the resignation of Sarah Morrill, a
.5 FTE Title I teacher at Woodside Elementary School, effective at the
conclusion of the 2006-2007 school year
It was moved by Mrs. Rogers, seconded
by Mr. Tufts, and VOTED (unanimously) to
accept the resignation of Sarah Morrill,
a .5 FTE Title I teacher at
7. COMMITTEE
REPORTS:
7.1 Finance Committee – No report was
given.
7.2 Facilities Committee – There was
nothing new to report.
7.3 Local
Redevelopment Authority meeting – Action was taken on this earlier in the meeting.
8. SUPERINTENDENT’S
REPORT:
8.1 Financial Report – Business Manager
Ron Lavender presented this report.
8.2 Policy
Committee meeting – The Policy Committee will meet at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 10 (prior to the regular Board meeting) in
Room 201.
8.2a Curriculum
Committee meeting – The Curriculum Committee will meet at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 2, in the District Office.
8.3 Trek Across
8.4 Side
Letter “B” – The Merrymeeting Teachers Association wants to activate Side
Letter “B” which is a provision to meet to explore ways to improve teacher
salaries. Superintendent Wilhelm
reported that he will be seeking a meeting of the Teachers Negotiations team
after May 14th.
8.5 High
School MEA’s – The District has received the State report on MEA’s. The Superintendent that one subgroup did not
attain Adequate Yearly Progress, but that the school (as a whole) did.
8.6 Meeting
with legislators and the status of LD 1953 – This item had been addressed
previously in the meeting.
9. ADJOURMENT:
The
meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
/bb/minutes42607