Deer Isle-Stonington High School
Tuesday, November 4, 2003 at 6:30 P.M.
Board Members Present:
Mark Cormier, Walter Kumiega,
Aimee Eaton, Skip Greenlaw and Ted Ames
Board Members Absent: Barrett
Brewer
Staff Present: Robert
Webster, Penny Wendell, Catherine Ring, Mike Wood, Warren Berkowitz, Mary
Banfield, Julie Davis, Georgia Pashely, Dorothy Conte, Sue Steed, Matt Larsen,
Sally Aman, Sharon McGuffie, Paula Greatorex, Sally Dunham, Jane Greenlaw,
Martha Jordan, Nancy Greene, Sally Foley, Bill Voisine, Dianne Rizzo, Lynnette
Grindle, Clara Stone, Lisa Grant
Guests: Leslie
Carr, Josephine Jacob, K. Boyce, E. Hill, R. Billings, Flip Jones, E. Haskell,
C. Larsen, N. Lewis
1) Call to Order and Declaration of a Quorum:
Vice-Chair
Ames called the meeting to order and declared a quorum at 6:34 P.M.
2) Moment of Silence:
A
moment of silence was observed.
3) Citizen Comments:
Student R. Billings presented a petition signed by 120 students and asked that the rule regarding bumper stickers be clarified. Discussion held on what constitutes offensive language and personal freedoms. Aimee Eaton commented that bringing a car to school is a privilege. Mark Cormier suggested using the list of offensive words that the Secretary of State wonÕt allow on vanity plates. Skip Greenlaw suggested that the Superintendent obtain the list and R. Billings, Mike and Penny could meet and agree on the offensive words. Everyone commended R. Billings for coming forward to address the issue and for his well-planned debate.
4) Approval of the Agenda:
Discussion Item 7.B to be taken before 7.A. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Kumiega, to approve agenda as amended. Vote: 5/Yes, 0/No.
5) Approval of the minutes of the September 2nd
meeting.
Motion by Kumiega, second by Greenlaw, to approve the minutes of the October 7, 2003 meeting as presented. Vote: 4/Yes, 0/No, 1/Abstain (Eaton).
6) REPORTS
A) School Union 76/93 Efficiency Committee
Skip Greenlaw reported that he attended a meeting last week with Bruce Ives and Laura Johns regarding the StateÕs requirements to have reporting system for historical data, entry of Learning Results, etc. Laura will bring proposal for software to Union meeting.
B) Elementary School Principal
Catherine Ring reported:
á Warren Berkowitz has spoken to the 6th, 7th and 8th grade classes regarding bullying. This directly relates to the school climate. Students now feel they can report bullying to the teachers and administration. The school counselor will be speaking to the 3rd, 4th and 5th graders.
á Discipline referrals are down by half.
á Responsive classroom teachers will meet with Marsha Bradley to look at whole school system for rules and consequences.
á She is conferring with Penny Wendell to make discipline more consistent between the schools.
C) High School Principal
Penny Wendell reported:
á Students are receiving white slips for good deeds, blue slips for not-so-good deeds. She has issued a challenge that the advisee group with the most white slips receive a pizza party. Next quarter, the rules will be the number of white slips minus blue slips received.
á Behavior issues have smoothed out.
á Mike Wood attended a workshop in Worcester, Massachusetts on the New England Dollars for Scholars. He received a $500 scholarship as a Òdoor prizeÓ.
á Matt Larsen has arranged an assembly with Wayne Soars for 1:00 at the Reach Auditorium. The assembly will focus on sportsmanship, role models and leadership through sports.
D) Superintendent of Schools
Robert Webster reported:
á James Hardy, Inc./Cemplank as a result of the meeting last month have affirmed their intention to replace all the trim at the elementary school. This work will be done next spring into next summer.
á Skip Eaton will do the drainage around the marine trades building before winter.
á HONK! will be performed on November 20, 21 and 22. All the Board members have received a report from Nelson Monteith regarding the current events at the Reach Performing Arts Center.
á He will need a volunteer for the central office staff compensation committee.
á The school health coordinator will prepare a survey report on school health issues.
á Financial statements will be ready next month.
7) DISCUSSION ITEMS
A)
Project Graduation (Taken out of order)
Penny Wendell reported that a large amount of money
would be needed for a senior class trip.
There have been complaints in the past that only a few students and
parents do all the fundraising for all the students. The senior class presently has $14,920 in their
treasury. There has been
discussion of not having a senior class trip but instead having a Project
Graduation. Senior class advisors
and officers took a survey of which event the class would prefer to do. 27 students chose project graduation,
14 chose the senior class trip and 9 were absent or did not vote. Discussion held on pros and cons of
each event. Penny discussed
the fact that chaperones are always hard to find. With the project graduation, the advisors would be the
chaperones. The Senior class trip
will be on the December agenda.
B) Review of K-12 Programs Supporting
At-Risk Students
Warren
Berkowitz reported that this discussion item was for a review of the programs
which the school provides for at-risk students. Clara Stone, Dorothy Conte, Julie Davis, Sally Foley, Paula
Greatorex, Sue Steed, Nancy Greene, Bill Voisine, Jane Greenlaw, Sally Aman,
Georgia Pashley, Mary Banfield, Dianne Rizzo, Mike Wood, Lisa Grant, Martha
Jordan, and Warren Berkowitz reported.
Skip
Greenlaw questioned what the other needs may be. Robert Webster noted substance abuse is an issue; Julie
Davis noted obesity. Catherine
Ring commented that the arts are needed more in school. Sue Steed noted that Nelson Monteith
has made great strides with some special needs students.
Motion
by Greenlaw, second by Cormier to table the remaining Discussion Items until
after the Action Items are acted upon.
Vote: 5/Y, 0/N.
8) ACTION ITEMS
A.
Bus Routes Extension Requests
Discussion held on bus route extension and contract
negotiations. Greenlaw commented
that the school should try to have contact with Laidlaw by January in order to
make budget negotiations easier. Motion
by Cormier; second by Greenlaw to deny request for bus route extension. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N.
B.
Physical Education Included in GPA
This
would not apply to the seniors.
Motion by Greenlaw; second by Kumiega to include P.E. in GPA. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N.
C.
2003-04 NCLB Budget
Motion
by Greenlaw, second by Kumiega, to approve 2003-04 NCLB budget. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N.
D. Coordinator of Volunteers Job Description Policy 9.20
Discussion
held on the policy. Addition of
job goal added by Aimee Eaton.
Motion by Greenlaw, second by Cormier to adopt policy as modified. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N.
E. Requests for Program Funding
1. Part-Time Coordinator of Volunteers
Position
2. Expand Remedial Math Position
Robert
Webster provided a memo comparing staff actual costs and budgeted amounts. Both
positions can be funded. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Kumiega, to fund
part-time coordinator of volunteers and full time remedial math position. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N.
F. Transportation Committee Appointments
Robert
Webster recommended Andrea Brown, Skip Greenlaw, Robert Webster, Kyle Webb and
Elwood Cobb for the transportation committee. Motion by Greenlaw; second by Eaton, to accept
superintendentÕs recommendations for transportation committee. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N.
Motion
by Greenlaw; second by Kumiega to extend meeting at 9:35 p.m. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N.
G. Personnel Nominations
1. Special Education Ed. Tech.
Robert
Webster nominated Louis Cooper as Special Education Ed. Tech. Motion by Greenlaw; second by Kumiega,
to approve Louis Cooper as Special Education Ed. Tech. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N.
2. Junior High Girls Basketball B Team
Coach
Robert
Webster nominated Crystal Robbins as Junior High Girls Basketball B Team
Coach.
3. Junior High Boys Basketball B Team
Coach
Robert
Webster nominated Russell Brown as Junior High Boys Basketball B Team Coach.
4. Junior High Cheering Coach
Robert
Webster nominated Beth McKay for Junior High Cheering Coach.
5. High School Chess Coach
Robert
Webster nominated Mark Vorda as High School Chess Coach.
6. Junior High Chess Coach
Robert
Webster nominated Danny Larrabee as Junior High Chess Coach.
7. Elementary Chess Coach
Robert
Webster nominated Dick Powell as Elementary Chess Coach.
Motion by Greenlaw; second by Kumiega to approve coaching nominations. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N.
H. Special Meeting Agenda
Discussion
held on agenda. Robert Webster
noted that there are a number of things to be addressed: MEAs, technology purchases for high
school, executive session on Life Skills program. Meeting is scheduled for November 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the
elementary school.
7)
DISCUSSION ITEMS (taken out of order)
E. Section 504 Program Policy 4.17
Discussion
held on policy. Second reading
will be at the special meeting.
This will be an Action Item in December.
F. Section 504 Case Manager Job
Description Policy 9.21
G. 2002-03 CSD Financial Audit
H.
School Committee Newsletter
I. Deer Isle-Stonington High School
Average Yearly Progress Status
These Discussion Items were tabled to the special
meeting.
9) COMMUNICATIONS
10) ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Greenlaw, second by Eaton, to adjourn
meeting at 9:55 p.m. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N
Respectfully submitted,
JoAnna Haskell