Minutes 09-02-03

Deer Isle-Stonington CSD #13 School Committee

Meeting Minutes

Deer Isle-Stonington High School

Tuesday, September 2, 2003 at 6:30 P.M.

Board Members Present:

Barrett Brewer, Aimee Eaton, Mark Cormier, Walter Kumiega, Ted Ames and Skip Greenlaw

Board Members Absent:

Staff Present: Robert Webster, Penny Wendell, Catherine Ring

Guests: Robert Braun, Leslie Carr

1) Call to Order and Declaration of a Quorum:

Chair Brewer called the meeting to order and declared a quorum at 7:30 P.M.

2) Moment of Silence:

A moment of silence was observed.

3) Citizen Comments:

4) Approval of the Agenda:

Discussion Item 7.C. deleted. Addition of 7.C. Coordinator of Volunteers. Addition of acceptance of musical instruments and executive session concerning a personnel matter. Motion by Kumiega, second by Eaton to approve agenda as amended. Vote: 6/Yes, 0/No.

5) Approval of the minutes of the August 5th meetings.

Motion by Kumiega, second by Cormier to approve the minutes of the August 5, 2003 meeting as presented. Vote: 5/Yes, 0/No, 1/Abstain (Greenlaw).

6) REPORTS

A) Elementary School Principal

Catherine Ring reported:

Three inservice days went well. Responsive Classroom, first six weeks of school and common area discipline were discussed on the first day. The second day was devoted to language arts. The third day was devoted to the new math curriculum. The committees have really worked hard and everything went very smoothly.

The first of two staff meetings have been held.

The first day of school went well. Minor glitches in the scheduling have been ironed out.

Greenlaw questioned the status of the language arts curriculum. Ring indicated that the new curriculum would be fully implemented within two years. Cormier questioned the release of students at the end of the day. Ring indicated that the change in procedures was for student safety.

B) High School Principal

Penny Wendell reported:

The first day of school was for Freshman only. Only six seniors did not participate because of job responsibilities.

School enrollment is at 182 with 52 freshmen

High School graduation committee has met. They have decided that Physical Education will count toward a student's GPA as any student can earn an A if effort is put in.

Student daily attendance will be done by e-mail.

Senior class advisors want to have a discussion regarding the senior class trip.

Wendell then discussed the work and goals for the Promising Futures grant.

C) Superintendent of Schools

Robert Webster reported:

He will be contacting Bureau of General Service of the Dept. of Education regarding the Cemplank issue with the trim on the school.

Siebert Brewer will be reporting at the October meeting for the maintenance committee.

There is no middle school golf coach

The school has received a matching grant in the amount of $250 from Eli Lilly which will be used for picnic tables on the playground.

The second clinical counselor position remains vacant. We are meeting those needs with contractor counselors Priscilla Heslin and Hector Sapien.

There will be reception for new staff on Thursday at 3:15 p.m.

7) DISCUSSION ITEMS

A) School Lunch Program Budget

Robert Webster distributed a proposed budget and stated that he met with Linda and Kate regarding the budget. Salaries are set unless we cut hours. They were given a per day food budget to work toward. There will be a monthly revenue and expenditure report so they can adjust accordingly. With the $25,000 for food service in the budget, it is still in the red because of the last two years.

B) School Union 76/93 Efficiency Committee Meeting

Barrett Brewer and Skip Greenlaw attended the meeting. Greenlaw reported they are trying to draft a change to school union statutes to avoid a union-wide suit such as Winslow’s. Brewer reported that the first step is the policy committee. In the meeting with Union 93 they discussed several issues including: hiring a nutritionist to help with the food service management; contracted services with computer programs; copier leases; transportation, perhaps have a peninsula bus service; and, payroll services.

C) Volunteer Coordinator

Discussion held on Volunteer Coordinator job description. This will be an action item in October. Brewer inquired of the Board to think about how to use the funding. Presently, she saw three choices: use for volunteer coordinator; use for math teacher; use for math teacher and technology at the high school.

D) Student Placement Policy 3.03

Discussion held on student retention. Greenlaw suggested that perhaps a tutor may need to be hired. Ames questioned what happens under NCLB if the student still fails to advance after all avenues of help have been exhausted. Ring indicated she would like to see a really strong tutoring program.

8) ACTION ITEMS

A. Accept IEF Grant

Robert Webster reported that the Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School received $1,000 for support for Responsive Classroom project. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Ames to accept gift of $1,000 from IEF. Vote: 6/Y, 0/N.

B. DISES and DISHS Parent/Student Handbooks

Robert Webster indicated that it is good to have Board approval of the handbooks. Motion by Kumiega, second by Cormier to approve handbooks. Vote: 6/Y, 0/N.

C. Personnel Nominations

1. Educational Technicians

Robert Webster nominated Benton White, III at $12.55 per hour. Benton White is a certified teacher with 13 years of teaching experience. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Kumiega to employ Benton White, III. Vote: 6/Y, 0/N.

Robert Webster nominated Maria Duddy at a rate of $8.05 for the remainder of her probationary period. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Kumiega to employ Maria Duddy. Vote: 6/Y, 0/N.

2. Varsity Girls Soccer Coach

Robert Webster nominated Marissa Mattei as varsity girls soccer coach. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Eaton to approve Marissa Mattei as coach. Vote: 6/Y, 0/N.

3. High School Chess Coach

Robert Webster nominated Kurt Klappenbach as high school chess coach. Motion by Kumiega, second by Greenlaw to approve Kurt Klappenbach as coach. Vote: 6/Y, 0/N.

D. Donation of Musical Instruments

Aimee Eaton stated that a Stonington resident who formerly owned a music store in Florida has donated a quantity of musical instruments to the school. 10 trumpets, 9 trombones and 8 clarinets. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Ames to accept musical instruments. Vote: 6/Y, 0/N.

9) COMMUNICATIONS

Robert Webster has received a notice from Maine School Management for the Board to nominate a delegate to the Maine School Board conference to be held on October 23 and 24.

Barrett Brewer shard an article from Time.

10) EXECUTIVE SESSION on personnel matter

Motion by Greenlaw, second by Kumiega to enter executive session on a personnel matter at 9:05 p.m. Vote: 6/Y, 0/N. Brewer, Eaton, Ames, Greenlaw, Kumiega, Cormier and Webster participated.

Returned to regular session at 9:21 p.m.

11) ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Kumiega, second by Greenlaw to adjourn meeting at 9:22 p.m. Vote: 6/Y, 0/N

Respectfully submitted,

JoAnna Haskell