PLEASE
NOTE THAT THE MINUTES WILL NOT BE FINAL UNTIL
THE
BOARD HAS APPROVED THEM AT ITS NEXT MEETING
February
14, 2008
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; and Gwen Thomas.
Also present was Lisa Rogers, student representative
to the Board of Directors.
Not present were Rebekah Stimpson and Roland Tufts.
Sam Prindall, student
representative to the Board of Directors, was also absent.
1. Call
to order
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Totten at 6:32 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
Agenda adjustments were noted as follows and
integrated appropriately into the agenda.
(add to)
4. To take action relative to accepting as printed the minutes
of the January 10, 2008, regular meeting of the Board of Directors
(tabled at the January 24th meeting, distributed but not in time for
Board’s consideration)
(table)
4. Action
on minutes of the January 24, 2008, regular meeting of the Board of
Directors
(correct)
6.3 Should
read: To appoint Kathleen Brown as a .5
FTE Title V teacher at
(add)
6.3a To consider the creation of an Adult Education Coordinator position
for Merrymeeting Adult Education
(correct)
6.5 Amy
Hall is currently a Title I literacy teacher (not a special education
teacher)
(add)
6.6a To accept the resignation of Amber Gross, Woodside
Elementary School 2nd grade teacher, effective August 31, 2008
3.1 RECOGNITIONS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Ø MVR 10
Students of the Quarter:
Shannon
Benson - Marketing
Aaron
Carrigan – Automotive Technology
Nathan
Rittal – English
Jake
Oh – General Trades
James
Ford – Landscaping
Jason
Scharold – Metal Fabrication/Welding
Brian
Ackley – Pre-apprenticeship
Samantha
Brooks – Business Management
Ø Brandon Almy,
Ø Mrs.
Rogers noted the donation of an automatic external defibrillator to the
District by Tina Baldwin
4. To take
action relative to accepting as printed the minutes of the January 24, 2008,
regular meeting of the Board of Directors
The
January 24th minutes were tabled.
It was moved, seconded, and VOTED (unanimously of those present, as Mr. Johnson had not yet
arrived) to accept as printed the minutes of the January 10, 2008, regular
meeting of the Board of Directors.
7.2 Curriculum Committee
Chairman
Totten took this item out of order.
Committee Chair Hill reported on the
Committee’s meeting prior to the Board meeting.
… Mr.
Johnson arrived at 6:35 p.m.
Mr. Hill reported that for the past two
years the District has been piloting Everyday Math in Grades 3-5. Math mentor Kate Greeley answered Board
members’ questions.
It was moved by Mr. Hill, seconded by
Mrs. Gardner, and VOTED (unanimously) that
the District adopt EveryDay Math for Grades K-5, with implementation taking
place over a two-year period.
Mr. Hill continued his report,
indicating that the RPC is working on identifying the educational benefits of
consolidating with
He noted that
He reported that the Committee had also
discussed the State’s proposed changes in programming and graduation
requirements and the degree to which the State will begin controlling high
school curriculum.
5. OLD
BUSINESS:
6. NEW
BUSINESS:
6.1
To appoint Kaleigh Bree Allen to a probationary contract for the remainder
of the contract year as a .6 FTE Title I teacher at
It was moved by Mrs. Carrier, seconded
by Mr. Johnson, and VOTED (unanimously) to
appoint Kaleigh Bree Allen to
a probationary contract for the remainder of the contract year a s a.6 FTE
Title I teacher at Bowdoinham Community School, at BA+15, Step 0, retroactive
to February 4, 2008.
6.2 To appoint Peter Gray to a one-year contract as
M.S.A.D. No. 75 Business Manager, effective February 25, 2008
It was moved by Mrs. Carrier, seconded
by Mrs. Rogers, and VOTED (unanimously) to
appoint Peter Gray to a one-year
contract as M.S.A.D. No. 75 Business Manager, effective February 25, 2008.
6.3 To appoint Kathleen Brown as a .5 FTE (correction noted) Title V
teacher at
It was moved by Mrs. Carrier, seconded
by Mrs. Gardner, and VOTED (unanimously)
to appoint Kathleen Brown as a
.5 FTE Title V teacher at Harpswell Islands School for the remainder of the
contract year, at BA, Step 2 (prorated) retroactive to February 4, 2008.
6.3a To consider
the creation of an Adult Education Coordinator position for Merrymeeting Adult
Education
Director Diana McCain presented the rationale
for this request, citing increased enrollments and courses being offered,
oversight of Region Ten’s Adult Education, lack of an Assistant Director, and
five facilities.
It was moved
by Mrs. Rogers, seconded by Mr. Hill, and VOTED
(unanimously) to approve the creation of an Adult Education Coordinator
position for Merrymeeting Adult Education.
6.4 To consider a
request for a year’s leave of absence from Seth
Berry for the 2008-2009 school year
It was moved by Mrs. Carrier, seconded
by Mr. Johnson, and VOTED (unanimously) to
approve a request for a year’s leave of absence from Seth Berry for the 2008-2009 school year.
6.5 To consider a
request from Amy Hall, Woodside
Elementary School Title I literacy
teacher (correction noted), for a leave of absence without pay from June
11, 2008 to the end of the school year to care for her new baby
It was moved by Mr. Hill, seconded by
Ms. Burns, and VOTED (unanimously) to
approve a request from Amy Hall,
6.6 To acknowledge
the intended retirement of Donna Thivierge,
The intended retirement of Donna Thivierge,
6.7 To establish
a Homework Support stipend position for
Principal Diane Stahl had started an
afterschool homework help program, and this stipended
position will allow someone else to assist her.
Ms. Burns asked for a report back on the
success of the position, indicating that perhaps it might be done at other
schools.
It was moved by Mrs. Carrier, seconded
by Mrs. Gardner, and VOTED (unanimously)
to establish a Homework Support stipend position for Bowdoinham Community
School for 1.5 hours per week at Category 3 (4% of the teacher base).
6.8 To hear a
report on the District Audit for FY ’07 presented by Christian Smith from
MacDonald Page
Board members had been provided copies
of the FY ’07 audit report. Mr. Smith
reported that his firm had issued a “clean” opinion and that no errors or
adjustments had been identified.
Corrective action has been taken for one
finding reported, in which some students were given free lunch when they were
only eligible for reduced-price lunches.
7. COMMITTEE
REPORTS:
7.1 Reorganization
Planning Committee – Due to weather conditions, the February 13 meeting was
rescheduled to February 20th; and the primary focus of the meeting
was to discuss cost-sharing options.
7.2 Curriculum
Committee – The bulk of this report had been presented earlier
in the evening. A joint meeting of the
Board’s Curriculum and Policy Committees has been scheduled for March 6th
to discuss AP courses at the high school.
The Curriculum Committee will meet on April 17th to focus on
the elementary literacy program.
8. SUPERINTENDENT’S
REPORT:
8.1 Financial
report – Business Manager Ron Lavender presented this report.
Mr. Lavender commended Shelley Doody for her efforts in the audit process. He noted that Ms. Doody,
having only assumed the position of Accountant in January before the audit was
performed, did an outstanding job preparing for the audit. Mr. Lavender stated it was a real credit to
Ms. Doody that she began taking additional accounting
courses (possessing a business degree, but not a degree in accounting)
immediately after assuming the role of Accountant. He
feels this speaks highly of her dedication and skills.
Mrs. Carrier asked that a letter of
commendation be forwarded to Ms. Doody and a copy
placed in her file.
8.2
Budget issues
– Superintendent Wilhelm distributed information relative to this item
and reminded Board members of the QuickTime videos to be “up” soon.
8.3 Correspondence
– Superintendent Wilhelm related that
Dr. Wilhelm reported that on February 28th
he has been requested to meet with the State’s two Deputy Commissioners of
Education in an effort to determine why the Board voted as it did on the
acceptance of
Mrs. Rogers would like to see the issue
reconsidered and would be interested in seeing questions (so they could be
answered) posed by Board members who voted against inviting Georgetown to join
the RSU. Mr. Hill would like to see the
same from those voted affirmatively to invite
Dr. Wilhelm told the Board that the
Legislature is currently “tweaking” the Consolidation Law. If those amendments pass, it would alter the
law under which planning for the Lisbon/M.S.A.D. No. 75 RSU is taking
place. Amendments, if enacted, would
allow for “super unions,” with a Board of Directors from each group.
Ms. Thomas feels it’s inappropriate that
the Commissioner is asking that the Superintendent – and not Board members –
meet to discuss the Board’s vote.
It was suggested that the Commissioner
(or Deputies) could view the taping of the meeting. Superintendent Wilhelm also suggested that
the Board could invite them to appear at a Board meeting.
Ms. Thomas feels it’s
offensive to ask Board members why they voted as they did. Mr. Hill agreed.
Mrs. Totten
feels that Mrs. Rogers is not asking that when asking Board members to write
out questions they want answered.
Dr. Wilhelm asked the Board what it
wished for him to do with the request.
Mrs. Carrier is not opposed to his
meeting with the Deputy Commissioner.
She suggested that the taping of the meeting could be shared, feeling
that it will demonstrate why Board members voted as they did.
Several Board members asked if the
Commissioner had asked other towns (i.e.
Mr. McKernan
feels if the Commissioner wants answers, she can look at the Board taping.
Mrs. Totten
feels that the Superintendent could “drive home” the issue
Mr. Russell bemoaned the fact that the
Board and RPC cannot get answers from the State on its questions and suggested
that the Commissioner come to this Board with answers to those questions. He is determined not to vote on something on
which he doesn’t have answers to his questions.
He continues to feel there’s something
inherently wrong with inviting
Dr. Wilhelm will meet with the two
Deputy Commissioners and provide them with a taping of the Board meeting at
which
6.10 To enter
executive session to hear a grievance from the Merrymeeting Employees
Association, pursuant to 1. M.R.S.A. 405 (6)(A)
At 7:40 p.m. it was moved by Mrs.
Carrier, seconded by Mr. Hill, and VOTED
(unanimously) to enter executive session to hear a grievance from the
Merrymeeting Employees Association, pursuant to 1.M.R.S.A. 405 (6)(A), with
Business Manager Ron Lavender invited to remain in the executive session.
The
executive session ended at 8:50 p.m.
It was moved by Mrs. Rogers, seconded by
Mr. Johnson, and VOTED (780 yeas, 0
nays, 77 abstentions, and 143 absent) to deny the grievance from the
Merrymeeting Employees Association.
Voting yea were Ms. Burns, Mrs. Carrier,
Mr. Hill, Mr. Johnson, Mr. McKernan, Mrs. Meisenbach, Mrs. Reinhart, Mrs. Rogers, Mr. Russell, Ms.
Thomas, and Mrs. Totten.
There were no nay votes.
Abstaining from voting was Mrs. Gardner.
Absent were Ms. Stimpson
and Mr. Tufts.
6.9 To enter
executive session to hear a report on the principals negotiations, pursuant to
1.M.R.S.A. 405 (6)(D)
At
9:00 p.m. it was moved by Mrs. Rogers, seconded by Mr. Hill, and
VOTED
(unanimously) to enter executive session to hear a report on the
principals negotiations, pursuant to 1.M.R.S.A. 405 (6)(D).
The
executive session ended at 9:02 p.m.
It was moved by Mrs. Rogers, seconded by
Mr. Johnson, and VOTED (unanimously) to
approve a new one-year contract with the principals.
9. ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting
was declared adjourned at 9:03 p.m.
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