Deer Isle-Stonington CSD #13 School Committee
Meeting Minutes
Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School
Tuesday, January 6, 2004 at 6:00 P.M.
Board Members Present:
Barrett Brewer, Mark Cormier,
Walter Kumiega, Ted Ames (6:35) and Aimee Eaton
Board Members Absent: Skip
Greenlaw
Staff Present: Bruce
Ives, Penny Wendell, Catherine Ring, Kendall McGuffie, Mary Banfield, Bobbi Ann
Billings, Anne Douglass, Lisa Grant, Dianne Rizzo
Guests: David
Walsh, Josephine Jacob, Andrea Brown, Laurie Jones-Hardy
1) Call to Order and Declaration of a Quorum:
Chair
Brewer called the meeting to order and declared a quorum at 6:08 P.M.
2) Moment of Silence:
A
moment of silence was observed.
3) Citizen Comments:
Barrett Brewer reported that only one person has taken out nomination papers for the two seats available on the school board. She urged any interested person to run for the other seat.
4) Approval of the Agenda:
Discussion Item B to be taken before 7. Executive
Session. Addition on Choral
Director under Personnel Action; Three additions under Acceptance of
Grants. Motion by Eaton, second
by Kumiega, to approve agenda as amended. Vote: 4/Yes, 0/No.
5) Approval of the minutes of the December 2, 2003
meeting.
Motion by Kumiega, second by Eaton, to approve
the minutes of the December 2, 2003 meeting as presented. Vote: 4/Yes, 0/No
6) REPORTS
A) Elementary School Principal
Catherine Ring reported:
á The Portland Museum of Art granted an original piece of art from William Thon. The piece comes with a videotape and curriculum materials. Mr. Thon was very enthusiastic about art education
á Ring and Wendell received an invitation from the Island Clergy Association to meet with them and discuss community issues and concerns. The meeting was beneficial with discipline and behavioral issues as well as restorative justice being discussed.
á The Civil Rights Team will be creating banners to be displayed at the school involving such issues as bullying and cultural diversity.
á Two concerts were well attended.
á The school has taken one snow day.
á The in-service day on January 2 went well. Pat Phillips talked about the NCLB act.
B) High School Principal
Penny Wendell reported:
á Martha Jordan, the advisors and Penny met with every 9th grade student to talk about how the year has gone, what goals they have set and whatÕs coming ahead
á Mid-year examination schedule was distributed. All teachers will be giving exams.
á The Peer Support Team conducted a survey regarding harassment. It is clear from the results that students feel harassment is going on, but students also feel that others will stick up for them if they are being harassed. She will work with the Peer Support Group and Civil Rights Team to get safety back.
á She received a survey from UMO showing how DISHS grads are doing at the university. According to the survey, 75% of the students expected to get a 3.00 or better with 60% actually achieving this goal. DISHS grads had a higher average GPA than the general university population. Also, 90% stayed past freshman year to complete their college education.
á She has appealed the AYP status under NCLB. The math portion has now been reversed. In reviewing the reading portion, she found two students who were not counted. She is hoping to have the reading portion appealed and reversed soon.
á Great workshop day working with teachers from Ellsworth who have developed a career prep program.
Mark Cormier restated his feelings about the offensive bumper stickers. Penny stated that the students would have been there to state their position, however, the matter is not on the agenda for this evening. This matter will be taken up at the special meeting.
C) Assistant Superintendent of School
Bruce Ives reported:
á Workshop went very well. Everyone is working well together. Union wide assessment committee is very well organized.
á The Grade 8 MEA tests will not be given online as reported earlier. It is now optional to take them online if the school has the ability to do so.
á The Elco Electric/D.L. Poulin suit has settled. This cleared away the lien on the school.
á There will be a meeting on Wednesday for the Board members taking part in teacher contract negotiations.
á Interest based negotiations training for Mark, Walk and Aimee will be scheduled.
7) Student Home Use of Laptop Computers
Anne Douglass stated that 60% of the schools in the state are allowing the students to take their laptops home. She has conducted two mandatory parental meetings. Thirty-two students were represented. They reviewed the rules and insurance issues. Twenty-six opted to take the insurance; two opted to take full responsibility; and three opted not to allow their children to take the machines home.
Motion by Ames, Second by Kumiega to allow
approved students to take the laptops home. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N.
8) EXECUTIVE SESSION on personnel
matters
Motion by Eaton, second by Ames
to enter executive session on personnel matters at 6:40 p.m.Vote: 5/Y, 0/N Barrett Brewer, Mark Cormier, Walt Kumiega, Aimee
Eaton, Ted Ames, Bruce Ives, Lisa Grant, Dianne Rizzo, Rose Humphrey, Burton
Humphrey, Terry Eaton, Sandra Eaton and Cathy Boyce participating. Returned to regular session at 8:05
p.m.
9) ACTION ITEMS
A.
Donation of a Library Entrance Mural
Eve Hamblett has offered to
fund a mural for over the library entrance to be painted by Rebecca Ray
Lessard. The total value is
approximately $7,000. Motion by
Kumiega, second by Eaton to approve donation. Vote: 5/Yes,
0/No.
B. Fee
for Checks with Insufficient Funds
The school has been receiving
an increasing number of bad checks at the elementary school. A fee of $25 is suggested to offset
costs of bank fees and staff time spent collecting payment. Motion by Kumiega, second by Ames to
impose a $25.00 fee for checks returned for insufficient funds. Vote: 5/Yes, 0/No.
C.
Curricula Approval
1. Industrial Arts
2. Write Traits
Bruce Ives reported that
these curricula have been reviewed at earlier meeting. Motion by Eaton, second by Kumiega
to approve Industrial Arts and Write Traits curricula. Vote: 5/Yes, 0/No.
D. Suspension and Expulsion Policy 3.05
No
discussion. Motion by Kumiega,
second by Ames to approve Suspension and Expulsion Policy 3.05. Vote: 5/Yes, 0/No.
E. Child Abuse and Neglect Policy 3.07
No
discussion. Motion by Kumiega,
second by Cormier to approve Child Abuse and Neglect Policy 3.07. Vote: 5/Yes, 0/No.
F. Request for Unpaid Leave
Bobbi
Ann Billings is asking for 10 days of unpaid time to accompany her sister to
Europe. Motion by Kumiega,
second by Eaton/Ames to approve unpaid leave time. Vote: 5/Yes,
0/No.
G.
Personnel Action
1. Employment of Custodian
Bruce
Ives nominated Sean Phelan as custodian at a probationary rate of $8.05 per
hour. Motion by Kumiega, second
by Cormier to employ Sean Phelan as custodian. Vote: 5/Yes, 0/No.
2. Transportation Aide
Bruce
Ives nominated Kelly Collins as transportation aide at a probationary rate of
$8.05 per hour. Motion by
Kumiega, second by Ames to employ Kelly Collins as transportation aide. Vote: 5/Yes, 0/No.
3. Choral Director
Bruce Ives nominated Nelson Monteith as Choral
Director. This will be a stipended
position. Motion by Eaton,
second by Kumiega to employ Nelson Monteith as Choral Director. Vote: 5/Yes, 0/No.
H.
Acceptance of Grants
1. Island Education Foundation Grants
The
Island Education Foundation has given a $500 grant for Katy HelmanÕs Visiting
Artist Program and $240 for Lisa GrantÕs follow up to the Spindle Works weaving
project. Motion by Kumiega,
second by Eaton to accept Island Education Foundation grants. Vote: 5/Yes, 0/No.
2.
CarolM. White grant in the amount of $49,509 to support snowshoes, climbing wall andnature trails as presented at theUnion meeting in December. Motionby Kumiega, second by Eaton to accept Carol M. White grant.
3.
Thisitem will be tabled until next meeting.
4.
Motionby Ames, second by Eaton to accept anonymous donation for Middle School ChoralProgram. Vote:
5.
TheJohnson Family Foundation has given grants of $1,000 to the high school and$500 to the elementary school. Motionby Kumiega, second by Eaton to accept Johnson Family Foundation grants.
6.
Discussionheld on who to choose to facilitate workshop. David Sanderson has been used many times.
J. H.C.T.C.Cooperative Agreement
BruceIves explained that this is a yearly agreement with Hancock County TechnicalCenter. Motion by Kumiega,second by Cormier to approve agreement. Vote: 5/Yes, 0/No.
K. 2004 School Committee Election Warrant
Warrantamended to include correct town. Motionby Eaton, second by Kumiega to approve warrant as amended.
BruceIves reported that Deer Isle-Stonington has been chosen to be the U.S. basedsite for the conference for Responsive Classroom from July 26 Ð 30.
10) DISCUSSIONITEMS
A)P.A.S.S. Program
C)First Reading of New or Revised Policies
1.
Thispolicy will go back to the committee. Bruce Ives reported that this policy may change as the requirements fromthe Maine Learning Results becomeclearer.
2.
Nochanges to policy. Policy readyfor second reading next month.
3.
Minorchanges made. Policy ready forsecond reading next month.
4.
Nochanges to policy. Policy ready for second reading next month.
5.
Compensationparagraph is deleted. No otherchanges. Policy ready for secondreading next month.
D)School Administrative Unit Task Force Report and Transportation Costs
Motionby Eaton, second by Kumiega to table this issue until the next meeting.
11) COMMUNICATIONS
BarrettBrewer distributed a handout of the events at the REACH Performing Arts Center.
BruceIves reported that he had taken a part-time job as Superintendent of the schoolon Monhegan Island.
11) ADJOURNMENT
Motionby Eaton, second by Kumiega, toadjourn meeting at 9:20 p.m. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N
Respectfully submitted,
JoAnna Haskell