Maine School Administrative District No. 35

Board of Directors - Regular Meeting

Marshwood High School

Wednesday, October 17, 2007 - 7:00 p.m.

7:00 Call to Order

Present: Mrs. Martha Leathe, Dr. William Gilbert, Mr. Ralph Stevens, Mrs. Ellen Breed, Mrs. Susan Pullar, Mrs. Helene Cass, and Dr. Jeffrey Bearden

Also Present: Mr. Randy Stewart, Ms. Margaret Shepherd, and interested members of the public and press.

Pledge of Allegiance

Scheduled Audience to the Public: None

Report of Secretary

1. Approval of the minutes of the regular meeting of Wednesday, October 3, 2007.

Motion: Dr. Gilbert Second: Mr. Stevens Vote: 6-0

Report of the Chairperson:

1. Board Goals 2007-2008 - Mrs. Breed asked that members establish a timeline and a process for addressing the goals.

2. Meeting with Municipal Chairs - Mrs. Cass reported that at the last meeting Miss Roberge brought up the issue of parking at the Marshwood Great Works School and thanked the school for putting out parking signs at their last function. Miss Roberge also stated that the town of South Berwick would provide equipment and labor for the construction of a parking lot at the Marshwood Great Works School if the school department agreed to provide the materials. The issue of a traffic light at the entrance of Marshwood High School was also discussed and it was suggested that the town of South Berwick and school department ask the state DOT to conduct a traffic study to determine if a light is warranted. It was also suggested that the entrance to Marshwood High School needs to be more visible. Officials from Eliot and South Berwick will meet with Mrs. Cass and Dr. Bearden on Friday, October 19, 2007, at noon.

3. Budget Items for Consideration - Mrs. Leathe suggested that the feasibility of online textbooks be explored as an alternative to purchasing hard copies. She requested the Board receive a follow up recycling report in order to determine if funds are needed to support programs in the schools. She also requested that the Superintendent look into the possibility of illuminating and animating the Marshwood High School sculpture as was provided for in the original design but dropped due to insufficient funding. Mrs. Pullar's interests are in trying to maintain programs and the exploration of an alternative education program. Mr. Stevens requested the Board adopt an energy conservation policy. Mrs. Breed recommended Board members receive professional development in the curriculum area in order to assist them in evaluating the existing curricula. Mrs. Cass suggested the Board authorize a part-time public relations/school volunteer/student mentor coordinator position in the FY09 budget.

Report of the Superintendent

1. Update on Central School - Dr. Bearden updated the members on the progress of the reconstruction and indicated that all but one classroom would be available by next Monday. The last room requires a new unit ventilator and windows which require two or three weeks for delivery and installation. On the issue of the five lost student days the consensus of the members was to request a waiver from the Commissioner. Dr. Bearden will prepare the request for Board action at the November 7, 2007 meeting.

2. Update on School Consolidation - Dr. Bearden stated that he had not been informed of a date for the state requested meeting with Kittery and York. There are two workshops on consolidation, one on October 24th in Augusta and the other on November 1st at the YCCC, which he and Mr. Stewart will be attending. The Board members agreed that they would each receive a copy of the Greenlaw petition and attempt to solicit signatures in their capacity as private citizens.

3. Class Size Report - Dr. Bearden presented a handout that showed the class size and student-teacher ratios for all the schools. With few exceptions class sizes are within the Board established guidelines.

4. Joint Meeting on E-mail - Dr. Bearden indicated that the superintendents from SAD #60, Kittery, and York, wanted to discuss the desirability of a joint workshop on e-mail with their individual school boards before committing to this idea.

Correspondence: News Articles - Dr. Bearden included two newspaper articles dealing with the consolidation issue for the Board’s review.

Report of Committees:

1. Report of the Finance and Facility Committee - Mrs. Pullar briefed the members on the results of the meeting that took place on October 10, 2007. The new lighting in the Marshwood High School gym exceeds the minimum standard and therefore does not need to be upgraded. The heating oil price was increased by two cents a gallon to $2.14 because the vendor is unable to use tanker trucks for the deliveries as specified in the bid. The next meeting is scheduled for November 7, 2007, at 1:45 pm in the Superintendent’s conference room.

2. Report of the Educational Policy Committee – The next meeting is scheduled for October 26, 2007, at 1:00 pm in the Superintendent’s conference room.

3. Report of the Community Relations Committee – None.

New Business:

1. Consideration and action to approve the use of Marshwood High School as a shelter for the Red Cross.

Motion: Mr. Stevens Second: Mrs. Pullar Vote: 6-0

Adjournment

Motion: Mrs. Breed Second: Mrs. Pullar Vote: 6-0

The Board adjourned at 8:15 pm.

Attest: True Record

Dr. Jeffrey B. Bearden

Secretary to the Board of Directors