Maine School Administrative District No. 35
Board of Directors - Regular Meeting
Marshwood High School
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 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.
Consideration and action to enter into an Executive Session for the purpose of Administrator contract negotiations pursuant to Title 1 MRSA §405(6)(D).
Motion: Mrs. Breed Second: Mrs. Pullar Vote: 6-0
The Board entered into Executive Session at 6:00 pm.
The Board came out of Executive Session at 6:45. No action was taken.
7:00 Call to Order
Present: Mrs. Helene Cass, Mrs. Ellen Breed, Mrs. Susan Pullar, Mrs. Martha Leathe, Mr. Ralph Stevens, Dr. William Gilbert, and Dr. Jeffrey Bearden
Also present: Mr. Jerry Burnell, Mr. Randy Stewart, Mrs. Vicki Stewart, Mr. Rich Buzzell, and interested members of the public and press
Pledge of Allegiance
Scheduled Audience to the Public: None
Members of the public who wish to schedule an audience with the Board should contact the Superintendent of Schools three days in advance of a meeting.
PUBLIC INPUT – BUDGET
Several members of the public provided input on the FY09 Superintendent's budget.
Report of the Secretary
1. Approval of the minutes of the regular meeting of Wednesday, March 5, 2008.
Motion: Mrs. Breed Second: Mrs. Pullar Vote: 5-0 (Dr. Gilbert abstained)
Report of the Chairperson:
1. Mrs. Cass said the board had received only six responses to the Newsline survey and solicited more public feedback. The Superintendent is coordinating the board workshop on curriculum. The environmental policy is being prepared by the Policy Committee. Ethical standards will be addressed by the Policy Committee soon. Discussion of consolidation of services is ongoing.
Report of the Superintendent:
1. Tami Schoff, Reading Coach, MMS and John Caverly gave a very thorough and informative presentation to the Board about the success of the new Reading Coach position at Marshwood Middle School.
2. Rich Buzzell, Athletic Administrator, presented the Board an End of Season Athletic Report on the results of the winter sports season.
3. Dr. Bearden provided the Board with the latest update on the state subsidy based on the Governor's proposal to the legislature. Based on this proposal, the MSAD #35 subsidy is $12,117,031, an increase of $186,378 from the Education Committee recommendation but still a reduction of $382,287 from last year. Dr. Bearden cautioned the board that the amount of subsidy would not be finalized until the legislature approves the state budget.
4. Dr. Bearden advised the Board he has been informed that the increase in health insurance premiums for next year will be 4%, not the 15% we had anticipated and as a result, he has decreased his FY09 budget request by almost $300,000 to $26,217,537, or a 2.99% increase over the FY08 budget. Included in his revised budget is an additional $19,500 for diesel and gasoline, which is budgeted at $3.80/gallon.
5. Dr. Bearden advised the Board that he has hired Mike Bryan as the new boys' varsity lacrosse coach. Mike has extensive experience as a player and a coach and was recommended by a committee as directed in our new Board policy.
6. Dr. Bearden advised the Board that the workshop on curriculum is scheduled for Wednesday, April 9th from 6-8 pm at the Central Office. Mary Jane McCalmon will present.
7. Dr. Bearden stated that he attended the last Rotary Club meeting and briefed them on his budget. He noted that the Rotarians were very impressed with our MHS Interact Club; they said it was one of the largest in southern Maine.
Correspondence: None
Report of the Committees:
1. Report of the Finance and Facilities Committee : None
2. Report of the Educational Policy Committee: None
3. Report of the Community Relations Committee: None
New Business:
1. Consideration and action to approve an overnight trip for the Girls’ Lacrosse team to Portland, ME on April 25-26th.
Motion: Mrs. Breed Second: Mrs. Pullar Vote: 6-0
2. Consideration and action to approve policy JFAB/JFAB-E - Admission of Nonresident Tuition Students, First Reading
Motion: Mrs. Pullar Second: Dr. Gilbert Vote: 4-2 (Mrs. Cass, Mrs. Leathe)
3 Consideration and action to delete policy KHE - Political Candidates.
Motion: Dr. Gilbert Second: Mr. Stevens Vote: 6-0
4. Consideration and action to authorize the Superintendent to enter into a 5 year lease purchase agreement to upgrade the district photocopier and network printing equipment.
Voted: That under and pursuant to the provisions of Title 20-A M.R.S.A. Sections 1001 and 1055, the Superintendent of Schools be and hereby is authorized to execute and deliver a tax-exempt lease purchase agreement with M.S.T. Government Leasing, LLC in the name and on behalf of Maine School Administrative District No. 35 (the “Issuer”), for the purpose of refunding and refinancing existing lease purchases of photocopier equipment and lease purchasing additional new and reconditioned photocopier equipment, any service agreements specifically financed in connection with certain equipment, consulting fees, and related costs of issuance, with an aggregate purchase price not exceeding Two Hundred Thirty-Three Thousand Three Hundred Fifty-Three Dollars and Twenty-Six Cents ($233,353.26), at a rate of interest of not more than 3.530% per year through August 1, 2012, and otherwise in such form as the Superintendent may approve; and that the appropriate officials of the Issuer be and hereby are authorized to execute and deliver on behalf of the Issuer such other documents and certificates as may be required in connection with such tax-exempt lease purchase agreement; and that no part of the proceeds of said tax-exempt lease purchase agreement shall be used, directly or indirectly, to acquire any securities or obligations, the acquisition of which would cause the tax-exempt lease purchase agreement to be a “private activity bond” or an “arbitrage bond” within the meaning of Sections 141 and 148, respectively, of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”); and that the tax-exempt lease purchase agreement issued pursuant hereto be designated as a qualified tax-exempt obligation within the meaning of Section 265(b)(3)(B) of said Code; and that the Superintendent be and hereby is authorized to covenant on behalf of the Issuer to file any information report and pay any rebate due to the United States in connection with the issuance of said tax-exempt lease purchase agreement, and to take all other lawful actions necessary to insure that the interest portion of the rental payments under and pursuant to the tax-exempt lease purchase agreement will be excluded from the gross income of the owners thereof for purposes of federal income taxation and to refrain from taking any action which would cause such interest portion of the rental payments to become includable in the gross income of the owners thereof.
Motion: Mrs. Breed Second: Mrs. Pullar Vote: 6-0
Mr. Burnell informed the Board that he had accompanied Ms. Pitman to the state reception for the Teacher of the Year candidates in Augusta. He said it was a very nice ceremony and that the regional finalists will be announced in a week.
Adjournment
Motion to adjourn: Mrs. Pullar Second: Dr. Gilbert Vote: 6-0
The Board adjourned at 9:15 pm.
Attest: True Record
Dr. Jeffrey B. Bearden
Secretary to the Board of Directors