PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MINUTES WILL NOT BE FINAL
UNTIL
THE BOARD HAS APPROVED THEM AT ITS NEXT
MEETING.
{Printed copies are duplex printed on both
sides of the paper.}
March 6, 2008
Recorder-amended
version – please discard previously-distributed version.
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 Rogers; Joanne Reinhart;
Donald Russell, Rebekah Stimpson; and Roland
Tufts.
Not present was Gwen
Thomas.
Also present was Lisa
Rogers, student representative to the Board.
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
Agenda
adjustments were noted as follows and integrated appropriately into the agenda.
(add to}
3.1 RECOGNITIONS
& ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Ø A moment of silence in memory of:
Ø Allison Rogers,
Ø Beverly Butler, School-based
{add}
7.3 MVR
10 Cooperative Board report
{add}
8.1 School
roofs
8.2 Snow
days
3.1 RECOGNTIONS
& ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Ø Dawn Prindall, Community Volunteer – Nominated for 2008 Adults in Service to
Ø A moment of silence in memory of:
Ø Allison Rogers,
Ø
Beverly Butler, School-based
Comments:
4. To take
action relative to accepting as printed the minutes of the January 24, 2008,
and February 14,2008, regular meetings of the Board of Directors
On the January 24th
minutes, Mr. Hill noted that Paragraph 10 on Page 6 should read “if M.S.A.D. No. 75 or Lisbon defeats…”
instead of “if any town defeats…”
It was moved by Mrs.
Carrier, seconded by Mr. Hill, and VOTED
(798 yeas, 0 nays, 66 abstentions, and 136 absent) to accept as amended the
minutes of the January 24, 2008,
regular meeting of the Board of Directors.
Voting yea were Ms.
Burns, Mrs. Carrier, Mrs. Gardner, Mr. Hill, Mr. Johnson, Mr. McKernan, Mrs.
Rogers, Mr. Russell, Ms. Stimpson, Mrs. Totten, and Mr. Tufts.
There were no nay
votes
Abstaining from voting
was Mrs. Reinhart.
Absent when the vote
was taken were Mrs. Meisenbach {who had not yet arrived} and Ms. Thomas.
It was moved by Mr.
Johnson, seconded by Mrs. Gardner, and VOTED
(721 yeas, 0 nays, 143 abstentions, and 136 absent) to accept as printed
the minutes of the February 14, 2008,
regular meeting of the Board of Directors.
Voting yea were Ms.
Burns, Mrs. Carrier, Mrs. Gardner, Mr. Hill, Mr. Johnson, Mr. McKernan, Mrs.
Reinhart, Mrs. Rogers, Mr. Russell, and Mrs. Totten.
There were no nay
votes.
Abstaining from voting
were Ms. Stimpson and Mr. Tufts.
Absent when the vote
was taken were Mrs. Meisenbach (who had not yet arrived) and Ms. Thomas.
5. OLD BUSINESS:
5.1 To
consider stipulations for allowing a leave of absence beyond six months for
employees under the Merrymeeting Employees Association contract
For the
Board’s consideration Superintendent Wilhelm had provided some possible
stipulations for allowing a leave of absence beyond six-months leave {the limit
to which the Contract allows the Superintendent to grant.}
Dr.
Wilhelm also provided a copy of the District’s policy on similar leaves for
teachers. He indicated that are two supportable
reasons to grant leaves of this duration – to pursue education to benefit the
employee and the District or to accommodate a health emergency.
He noted
also the importance of having a qualifier for the duration of employment with
M.S.A.D. No. 75.
In
response to a question by Mr. Hill, Dr. Wilhelm recounted the range of duties
of employees in this bargaining unit.
Mr.
McKernan feels this constitutes a substantial change to the contract.
Mr.
Johnson asked whether employees on leave receive benefits, and Dr. Wilhelm stated
they do not.
Mrs.
Carrier asked, and it was stated that Vicki Stanley has been a District
employee for eight years.
It was
moved by Mr. McKernan and seconded by Mrs.
Mrs.
Carrier indicated she cannot support granting this leave, likening it to
“opening Pandora’s box.” She reiterated
that she has nothing against furthering one’s education, but that she would
assume Ms. Stanley would be looking at returning to the District as a
teacher.
Ms.
Burns commended Ms. Stanley’s skills, expressing her personal feeling that the
disruption to the classroom {anticipated to be a result of Ms. Stanley’s leave}
would not be as “shattering” as she first felt it would.
Dr.
Wilhelm reminded Board members that KinderStart Educational Technicians are
responsible {with supervision from the teacher} for the Kindergarten class
one-half of the school day. He feels
that some of the best Kindergarten teachers were formerly Educational
Technicians.
Mrs. Rogers asked Mr. McKernan {and he agreed}
to withdraw his motion so that the suggested stipulations can be
discussed.
It was
moved by Mrs. Rogers and seconded by Mrs. Gardner to accept stipulations {as presented} for
allowing a leave of absence beyond six months for employees under the
Merrymeeting Employees Association contract.
… Mrs.
Meisenbach arrived at 7:00 p.m.
Mr. Hill
suggested taking this issue to Policy Committee and crafting a policy
addressing leaves of absence for non-teaching staff, perhaps drafting a policy
which would apply only to Educational Technicians.
Mrs.
Carrier pointed out again the possibility of other categories of employees –
custodians and mechanics, for example – asking for similar leaves of
absence. Dr. Wilhelm indicated he
developed the stipulations for all categories of employees in the bargaining
unit.
Dr.
Wilhelm stated that the Policy Committee could address the issue before voting
on the request. Ms. Burns asked how this
would affect the timing of the request.
Ms.
Stanley indicated her intention to return to Williams-Cone School, with the
ability to apply for teacher openings.
If not granted the leave, she will work out the remainder of the year
and start her program in September 2008.
Mrs.
Rogers asked if there’s a way to accept the stipulations then put it into
“policy format.”
The
motion made by Mrs. Rogers and seconded by Mrs. Gardner to accept the
stipulations {as presented} for allowing a leave of absence beyond six months for
employees under the Merrymeeting Employees Association contract was VOTED (584 years, 280 nays, 67 abstentions,
and 69 absent).
Voting
yea were Ms. Burns, Mrs. Gardner, Mr. McKernan, Mrs. Reinhart, Mrs. Rogers, Mr.
Russell, Ms. Stimpson, and Mr. Tufts.
Voting nay were Mrs. Carrier, Mr. Hill, Mr. Johnson, and
Mrs. Totten.
Abstaining from voting was Mrs. Meisenbach.
Absent was Ms. Thomas.
5.2 To
consider granting Vickie Stanley, Educational
Technician III at Williams-Cone School, an unpaid leave of absence as requested
in her letter of January 11, 2008
It was
moved by Mr. McKernan and seconded by Mrs. Gardner to approve granting Vickie Stanley, Educational Technician
III at Williams-Cone School, an unpaid leave of absence as requested in her
letter of January 11, 2008.
Mrs.
Totten asked how school consolidation might affect this decision. Dr. Wilhelm stated that any decision this
Board makes will “flow” into the RSU. It
was also clarified that the person filling this anticipated vacancy would have
a one-year only assignment.
Williams-Cone
School Principal Otis Thompson indicated that he supports Ms. Stanley’s request
for a leave, stating that he would support her being able to return to
The
motion to grant Ms. Stanley’s request was VOTED
(798 yeas, 135 nays, 0 abstentions, and 69 absent).
Voting
yea were Ms. Burns, Mrs. Gardner, Mr. Hill, Mr. Johnson, Mr. McKernan, Mrs.
Meisenbach, Mrs. Reinhart, Mrs. Rogers. Mr. Russell, Ms. Stimpson and Mr.
Tufts.
Voting
nay were Mrs. Carrier and Mrs.Totten.
There
were no abstentions.
Absent
was Ms. Thomas.
6. NEW BUSINESS:
6.1 {taken out of order} To appoint Michael
Myers to the position of Coordinator for Community Life and Marketing for
Merrymeeting Regional Adult Education, retroactive to February 25, 2008, at an
annual salary of $45,000
It was
moved by Mrs. Carrier, seconded by Mr. Johnson, and VOTED (unanimously) to appoint Michael
Myers to the position of Coordinator for Community Life and Marketing for
Merrymeeting Regional Adult Education, retroactive to February 25, 2008, at an
annual salary of $45,000.
6.4 {taken out of order} To hear
a request from Williams-Cone School to add an Educational Technician III to the
kindergarten classrooms for the remainder of the school year, due to an
increase in enrollment, the cost of $7,200 to be taken from contingency
It was
moved by Ms. Burns, seconded by Mrs. Gardner, and VOTED (unanimously) to approve a request from
6.3 To hear
information and gather input on No Child Left Behind, required reporting and
the program status and development process
Assistant
Superintendent Sally Loughlin presented this report. She stated that the District needs to
demonstrate that everyone received the same opportunities and that Title I
funds are used to supplement {not supplant} existing programs.
She
reported that M.S.A.D. No. 75, because of its population, went from 19%
identified eligibility to 9% using the census.
Ms.
Loughlin pointed out the effects of loss of school eligibility, if
5.2 Consolidation – Superintendent Wilhelm reported that the District will
only be losing $948,000 rather than the $1 million formerly anticipated, in the
necessary budget cuts before July 1, 2008.
James Rier has met with
Superintendent Wilhelm and Patrick Moore and explained that the District’s
special education funding is being reduced so drastically, because the State
has changed its method of calculating special education subsidy.
Superintendent
Wilhelm told the Board that if consolidation occurs, the District’s fund
balance can’t be used as revenue.
The RPC
will host two public hearings on the consolidation Plan before it is presented
at referendum. The hearings will be held
at 10:00 a.m. at
6.2 To consider a request
for a leave of absence from Alison
Guite,
It was
moved by Mrs. Rogers, seconded by Mrs. Gardner, and VOTED (unanimously) to approve a request for a leave of absence
from Alison Guite, Woodside
Elementary School 3rd grade teacher {from the
conclusion of her FMLA to the end of the school year}.
6.5 To
consider a request to enroll Emma Cota as
a tuition student at
It was
moved by Mrs. Gardner, seconded by Mr. Johnson, and VOTED (unanimously) to approve a request to enroll Emma Cota as a tuition student at
6.6 To hear
a report on the work of the Teacher Evaluation Committee
This
committee has been working for the past two years on improving the method of
teacher evaluation. Superintendent
Wilhelm presented this report, noting that at another meeting the Board will be
asked to adopt the report and its recommendations.
7. COMMITTEE REPORTS:
7.1 RPC – Mr. Hill reported on the February 27th
meeting of the RPC.
Mrs.
Carrier admitted she’s disturbed about information the Board received tonight
relative to how consolidation will affect the District’s programs. She asked
whether the process has to be continued, stating that the impact is not such
that we would be willing to assume it.
She feels that the District should exercise its option to “stand alone.”
Mrs.
Rogers admitted she had thought about making the same comment as Mrs. Carrier,
but did not, as the process has not been well attended by the public. She feels that the hearings need to be held,
feeling that the RPC owes the public a full explanation of the process and its
subsequent effects. She concluded by
expressing her sentiment that it would be unfortunate if the RPC did not carry
through with the hearing process.
Mrs.
Gardner admitted to becoming angrier, the more she hears {regarding the anticipated effects of consolidation}. She feels that the
M.S.A.D. No. 75 system will be “ravaged” and that students will bear the brunt
of consolidation.
Mr.
Johnson feels that consolidation is a “black cloud” over the District and that
he’s not willing to tear apart a system that he’s been proud to serve.
Mrs. Totten hopes that residents attend both hearings in order
to hear questions posed by both
Mrs.
Rogers stated that the RPC needs to present “the Plan.” Mr. McKernan feels that the Board needs to
inform the public with “due diligence” that the alternate plan (to stand alone)
can be exercised.
Mr.
Russell feels that unless information is forthcoming, the hearings will be
meaningless. He stated that the public
needs to be presented with the best “numbers” the RPC can develop, making data
as clear as possible.
Mr. Hill
stated that at the hearings, the RPC will outline how it came to its current
position and present the facts as they are known, trying to articulate, as well
as can be, the work of the RPC.
There will be another
hearing process before the June referendum.
7.2 Curriculum/Policy
Committee meeting – Ms. Burns reported on this evening’s joint
Curriculum/Policy Committee meeting. The
committees are in agreement that it will not be a requirement that students
taking AP courses must take the exam, but that it will be conveyed to teachers
of those courses the importance of teaching the courses in such a way that
students will be prepared to take the exam.
Transcripts will be amended for those students taking AP courses (but
not taking the exam) that it is just an advanced course. This arrangement will be monitored for one
year before making any final change to the process.
7.3 MVR 10 – Mr. Johnson reported on the February 27th
meeting. Instructor David Giroux has
been nominated as a Teacher of the Year.
MVR 10 is investigating with Honeywell possible cost savings in
converting to propane. A different
approach will be used for “open house” at Region Ten.
8. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT:
8.1 Roofs –
Superintendent Wilhelm reported that all school building roofs have been
inspected and that no major problems have been detected.
8.2 Snow Days – To date, the District has utilized five “snow days,” which
will be added to the current projected ending date of June 12.
Seniors
cannot graduate more than five days before the end of the school year, and at a
future meeting the high school principal will address the Board regarding
opportunities for seniors to make up some of the days.
6.7 To enter
executive session pursuant to 1.M.R.S.A. 405 (6)(B) to consider the
readmittance of an expelled student
At 8:22
p.m. it was moved by Mrs. Rogers, seconded by Mr. Hill, and VOTED (unanimously) to enter executive
session pursuant to 1.M.R.S.A. 406 (6)(B) to consider the readmittance of an
expelled student.
The
executive session ended at 8:43 p.m., and the following action was taken.
It was
moved by Mrs. Rogers, seconded by Mrs. Gardner, and VOTED (unanimously) to readmit Student “X,” provided he continue
with drug therapy and, school counseling, maintain passing grades and involve
himself in extra/co-curriculum activities.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The
meeting was declared adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
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