Maine School Administrative District No. 35

Board of Directors - Regular Meeting

Marshwood High School

Wednesday, February 27, 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.

 

7:00                 Call to Order

 

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

 

Also Present:   Mr. Jerry Burnell, Mrs. Carole Smith, Ms. Margaret Shepherd, Mrs. Vicki Stewart, Mr. Randy Stewart, Mr. John Caverly, members of the public and three students representing student government at Marshwood High School:  DJ Strada, Anabel Wold, and Justin Rouse

 

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.

 

Report of the Secretary:

 

1.         Approval of the minutes of the regular meeting of Wednesday, February 6, 2008.

            Motion:  Mrs. Breed  Second:  Mrs. Pullar   Vote: 5-0

 

Report of the Chairperson:

 

1.         Mrs. Cass said that this Friday is her monthly luncheon with the town chairs. 

 

Report of the Superintendent:

 

1.         Athletic Accomplishments:  Dr. Bearden congratulated the Marshwood Senior SMAA Winter Season All-Academic winners with a 93.0 accumulative GPA or higher:  Wrestling, John Thompson; Indoor Track, Colleen Fitzpatrick, Josh Avery, Justin Rouse; Girls' Basketball, Ashleigh Locke; Skiing, Anabel Wold, Colby Nixon, Hanna Howell, Christopher Lee. Dr. Bearden also congratulated the Cheerleaders for winning the Western Maine Championship, the Varsity Girls' Basketball team for making it to the quarter finals, and the Girls' Alpine Ski Team for winning the Class A championship.

 

            Dr. Bearden told the Board that John Hussey won the State Wrestling Championship for the fourth year in a row.  Dr. Bearden said that he was particularly proud that the Varsity Wrestling team won the Class A Good Sportsmanship Award.

2.         Teacher Evaluations - Ms. Sullivan explained that the Supervision and Evaluation process had been changed in June of 2006. The major changes were to clearly identify the process, how it works, and what the dates are. Another change was that principals have some discretion as to how many formal observations they do for continuing contract teachers. The Supervision and Evaluation handbook clearly states that informal observations are an important part of the process. Teachers are also told that many other factors enter into their evaluation other than the observation of their classroom performance. The new system seems to be working very well since both administrators and teachers know exactly what the expectations are.

 

3.         2008-2009 School Budget: Dr. Bearden submitted his proposed FY’09 budget to the Board.  The proposal was described as a status quo budget with an increase in spending of 4.1%.  Fuel oil and diesel accounts for 23% of the proposed increase.  Also included in the proposed budget:  a cost of living increase for all employees, a 15% increase in health insurance, funding for replacement computers, and $12,000 for a communication system that will allow the district to automatically contact parents in the event of storms, important dates, and emergencies.

            Dr. Bearden proposed a net decrease in two special education teaching positions.  He also proposed the elimination of the Maine Learning Results teaching position at the Middle School.  Dr. Bearden proposed increasing the staffing for Gifted and Talented by 1/2 position, adding a Library-Media Specialist to serve the K-8 population, and a part-time volunteer coordinator.

 

            Dr. Bearden informed the Board that he has not yet received the subsidy report from the state; therefore, he was still not certain what the increase will mean in terms of assessment to the communities of Eliot and South Berwick.

 

            The Board of Directors will meet with the Administrative Team on March 15, 2008 to review individual building requests.  Budget workshops will be held for the community on April 2 and April 16.  On June 10, citizens will have the opportunity to vote on the Board’s proposed budget.

 

4.         Dr. Bearden congratulated Diane Pitman for being nominated as Teacher of the Year. She will attend a ceremony on March 5th in Augusta along with Jerry Burnell and Carole Smith.

 

5.         Dr. Bearden agreed to put the budget as an item on the agenda for every Board meeting.

 

Correspondence:

 

1.         MMS Batting Cage Proposal – The Superintendent thanked the Baseball Boosters for their offer of purchasing a batting cage for Marshwood Middle School. He said that we will coordinate where it will be placed.

 

Report of the Committees:

 

1.         Report of the Finance and Facilities Committee  - Mrs. Pullar stated that at the meeting today we reviewed various projects in the district. The Honeywell work will be completed by mid-August. The District is also seeing some savings from the work that has already been done. The final claim for the fire at Central School has been processed. The Committee was informed that installing smoke alarms at Central School would cost approximately $30,000. The installation of smoke alarms at MGWS would be in excess of $30,000.

2.         Report of the Educational Policy Committee – Mrs. Breed said that they will be meeting on Friday.

 

3.         Report of the Community Relations Committee – The Newsline is complete and in the mail.

 

New Business:

 

1.         Consideration and action to approve policy IKB - Homework, second reading.

            Motion Mrs. Breed  Second:  Mr. Stevens Vote: 5-0

 

2.         Consideration and action to approve policy GCSA - Employee Computer and Internet Use, second reading.

            Motion:  Mrs. Pullar  Second:  Mr. Stevens Vote: 5-0

 

3.         Consideration and action to approve policy GCSA-R, Employee Computer and Internet Use Rules, second reading.

            Motion:  Mrs. Breed  Second:  Mr. Stevens  Vote: 5-0

 

4.         Consideration and action to approve policy IJNDB, Student Computer and Internet Use, second reading.

            Motion:  Mrs. Pullar  Second:  Mrs. Breed  Vote: 5-0

 

5.         Consideration and action to approve policy IJNDB-R, Student Computer and Internet Use Rules, second reading.

            Motion: Mrs. Pullar Second:  Mrs. Breed  Vote: 5-0

 

6.         Consideration and action to approve policy BBAB, Student Representation to the School Board, second reading.

            Motion:  Mr. Stevens  Second:  Mrs. Pullar  Vote: 5-0

 

The Board said that they are willing to have students start as soon as the high school is ready.

 

7.         Consideration and action to approve policy EBCF, Environmentally Sound Schools, first reading.

            Motion:  _________  Second:  ___________  Vote: _________

 

            Consideration and action to table this motion.

 

            Motion:  Mrs. Pullar  Second:  Mr. Stevens  Vote:  5-0

 

8.         Consideration and action to approve EES New Opportunity Points.

            Motion:  Mrs. Pullar  Second:  Mr. Stevens  Vote: 5-0

 

9.         Consideration and action to approve the MHS Project Graduation fundraiser.

            Motion:  Mrs. Pullar  Second: Mrs. Leathe Vote: 5-0

 

Mr. Burnell stated that the district choral workshop day was wonderful.  Students from MGWS and MMS went over to the high school to sing with the high school chorus.   There were four hundred students in the auditorium showing their love of music.

 

Mr. Caverly said that on March 3 students at MMS will be celebrating Read Across America day by "travelling" from state to state.  The challenge is for the students to  identify each state and what book goes along with each state.

 

The Board adjourned at 8:46 pm.

 

Motion:  Mrs. Pullar  Second:  Mr. Stevens  Vote:  5-0

 

Attest:   True Record

 

Dr. Jeffrey B. Bearden

Secretary to the Board of Directors