Maine School Administrative District No. 35
Board of Directors - Regular Meeting
Marshwood High School
Wednesday, September 19, 2007 - 7:00 p.m.
CITIZENS ARE INVITED TO MAKE COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA USING THE CARDS LOCATED NEXT TO THE AGENDAS. A BOARD MEMBER WILL RESPOND TO ALL WRITTEN COMMENTS WITHIN A WEEK.
7:00 Call to Order
Present: Mrs. Martha Leathe, Dr. William Gilbert, Mr. Ralph Stevens, Mrs. Ellen Breed, Mrs. Susan Pullar Dr. Jeffrey Bearden, Ms. Gail Sullivan
Also Present: Mr. Randy Stewart, Ms. Vicki Stewart, Mr. John Caverly, Ms. Margaret Shepherd, Mr. Jerry Burnell and interested members of public and press
Pledge of Allegiance
Scheduled Audience to the Public: None
Report of the Secretary:
1. Approval of the minutes of the regular meeting of Wednesday, September 5, 2007.
Motion: Mrs. Pullar Second: Dr. Gilbert Vote: 5-0
Report of the Chairperson:
1. Board Goals: Mrs. Breed said that the School Board had asked to be reminded about the Board Goals. The first step in working towards the Board Goals will be to do work at the next policy meeting. Mrs. Breed read the Board Goals to the audience.
2. Petition on School Consolidation: Mrs. Breed explained that Skip Greenlaw, cochair of the CSD 13 school committee, has written a petition to repeal school consolidation. The Board is interested in adopting a resolution in regard to school consolidation for the next Board meeting.
3. Reports requested by Board: Mrs. Pullar said that she would be interested in having a report on the English/Language Arts changes at Marshwood Middle School. She said that she would also like to revisit the restructuring of the guidance department at the high school. Other reports requested by the Board included: AP enrollment and scores, a facilities report, kindergarten class size, gifted/talented, recycling, and policies pertaining to substance abuse.
Report of the Superintendent:
1./2. Consolidation Update - Dr. Bearden said that the Commissioner had sent a letter saying that the DOE was in receipt of our notice of intent to stand alone. The Commissioner said that although we were legally entitled to stand alone, she would be sending people to meet with Kittery, York and SAD 35 to discuss the sustainability of the districts.
3. PDA - Training Update - Ms. Sullivan explained that the administrators are all doing the three minute walk-throughs. The walk-throughs have multiple purposes. One purpose is to check our progress on our three district goals: a) integration of technology; b) respectful atmosphere, and c) improvement in literacy. Ms. Sullivan also explained that a principal could do several visits, up to 15 visits on an individual teacher to get a more accurate understanding of their teaching in addition to a single observation. The purpose of all of the walk-throughs is to both improve teaching and improve the level of data that we have about district initiatives.
Dr. Bearden gave everyone an update of the progress at Central School. He stated that the clean up was going well and that for the most part the cleaning was completed except for the wing where the fire took place. Dr. Bearden anticipated that all clean up work in the main building would be done by Sunday. An air sample has been taken that indicates that the air quality in the building is safe. Dr. Bearden said that he was keeping the school closed to err on the side of caution. He said that all information about Central School's closing would be on the website and that he would call the media daily to keep them informed. Dr. Bearden said that at the meeting on the previous evening, parents voiced their concerns about having only two smoke detectors and no sprinkler system at Central School. Parents had suggested that as a temporary measure there should be the installation of smoke detectors in each room. Dr. Bearden said that the school department was extremely grateful to the firefighters and to neighboring school districts, parents, and community members for all of their help during the past few days. Central School staff will contact parents prior to students returning to school.
PUBLIC COMMENT
One parent said that he had concerns about students crossing the street. He would prefer specials to occur in the school rather than in the church across the street. Another parent thanked the district for agreeing to put up the temporary smoke alarms. There was a suggestion that we set up a fund to collect money to help Central School. Ms. Cerabona complimented Dr. Bearden's handling of the parent meeting.
Correspondence:
1. We received a letter from Mr. Poulin informing us that the South Berwick Community Chorus had purchased additional acoustical shells. Dr. Bearden received an email from Mr. Burnell regarding Gayle Morgan-Janes being honored by the Southern Maine Parent Awareness Group. Dr. Bearden said that there was an editorial in the paper thanking MSAD 35 for being so cooperative in our discussions with Kittery about consolidation. There was also a note from Luke Edgar thanking the district for allowing him to take a leave this year.
Mr. Stevens noted MSAD 35 had contributed to the purchase of the shells that were originally bought by the South Berwick Community Chorus. It was decided that the Board would send a letter of congratulations to Gayle Morgan-Janes.
4. MSMA Fall Conference - Dr. Bearden reminded the Board of the upcoming conference sponsored by MSMA.
Report of the Committees:
1. Report of the Finance and Facilities Committee - Mrs. Pullar said that the gym light retrofit project was complete. There has been additional lighting added to the walkways at Marshwood High School. The fencing at Central School has been completed. The Little Hawks put up a new tower at Marshwood Middle School. There was a discussion about adequate parking at Marshwood Great Works School.
2. Report of the Educational Policy Committee - The committee will meet tomorrow.
3. Report of the Community Relations Committee - The committee met this evening and discussed topics for the upcoming newsletter.
New Business:
1. Consideration and action to approve the request to use MSAD #35 buses for Eliot Festival Day.
Motion: Dr. Gilbert Second: Mrs. Pullar Vote: 5-0
2. Consideration and action to approve election of Martha Leathe as delegate to MSBA Assembly.
Motion: Mrs. Pullar Second: Dr. Gilbert Vote: 5-0
3. Consideration and action to approve the following nomination:
Literacy Coach, MGWS - TBD
Motion: ____________ Second: ______________ Vote: ____________
This motion was tabled without a vote.
Mr. Burnell issued an invitation to the Board to come to the NEASC reception on Sunday, September 30th. The NEASC visiting committee will meet with the Board at 3:30 on Sunday. The reception will follow.
Vicki Stewart said that her staff had been wonderful in their response to the fire and she felt that when the school opened again it would be a wonderful second start.
Mr. Caverly said that they were going to be reading at Marshwood Middle School on Thursday morning as part of the Jump Start Reading Program. They were hoping to set a world record for the number of people reading at the same time.
Martha Leathe said that she had attended the Open House at Marshwood High School the evening before and the turnout was incredible.
Adjournment
Motion: Mrs. Pullar Second: Dr. Gilbert Vote: 5-0
The Board adjourned at 7:59 pm.
Attest: True Record
Dr. Jeffrey B. Bearden
Secretary to the Board of Directors