Deer Isle-Stonington CSD #13 School Committee
Meeting Minutes
Deer Isle-Stonington High School
Tuesday, July 6, 2004 at 6:30 P.M.
Board Members Present:
Mark Cormier, Skip Greenlaw,
Barrett Brewer, Walter Kumiega and Aimee Eaton (6:35)
Board Members Absent: Jim
Adams
Staff Present: Robert
Webster, Penny Wendell, Catherine Ring, Mike Wood, Susan Guilford
Guests: David
Walsh, Tim Osnoe, Jane Bean, Richard Sweet
1) Call to Order and Declaration of a Quorum:
Chair
Kumiega called the meeting to order and declared a quorum at 6:30 P.M.
2) Moment of Silence:
A
moment of silence was observed.
3) Citizen Comments:
4) Approval of the Agenda:
Addition of Discussion Item F Legal Issues. Motion by Brewer, second by
Greenlaw, to approve agenda as amended. Vote: 4/Yes, 0/No.
5) Approval of the minutes of the June 1, June 14, June 25 and June 30, 2004
meetings.
Motion by Greenlaw, second by Brewer, to approve
the minutes of the June 1, June 14, and June 30, 2004 meetings. Vote: 4/Yes, 0/No.
Motion by Greenlaw, second by Brewer, to approve
the minutes of the June 25, 2004 meeting.
Vote: 3/Yes, 0/No,
1/Abstain (Cormier).
6) REPORTS
A) Responsive Classroom
Susan
Guilford reported that she and Paula Greatorex have compiled a report of what
has happened in the past year.
Susan summarized as follows:
á
The school began the Responsive Classroom program about
five years ago. At that time three
teachers went to a workshop on how to implement the program. When the school was moved to the new
building, all the teachers were involved with training and the plan was
implemented.
á
The first year goal was to implement morning
meeting. This gave consistency
throughout the building on how the day started.
á
During the second
year the staff was concerned that if there was no support in place that
the program would die.
á
They have formed a committee to help keep the program
going. Principal Ring was hired
from a school that had the full program and has given some insight on how the
program works.
á
Other facets of the program need to be implemented such
as rules and logical consequences.
á
The teachers were helped by a consultant who came for
two days at the beginning of last year.
á
This year they will have an inservice day Responsive
Classroom training. At the beginning of the year. Ruth Charney will attend the August 30 inservice to work
with the middle level teachers.
á
They would like to have a second day, but there is no
money budgeted.
á
The school has been asked to host the summer institute
during the last week of July.
There will be about 50 teachers in attendance, 22 of which are from our
own school.
á
Both of the administrators will be taking the first
Responsive Classroom training.
á
Next year they will work on school-wide discipline.
Catherine Ring commented
that some of the ideas to be implemented next year will include extra staff on
duties, more planned, structured activities during recess and the K-2 staff
will eat with the children.
B)
Transportation
Tim Osnoe reported that they want to hire the best possible drivers for the school. First Student is currently reviewing 8 candidates. They are waiting on the background checks and physicals. After being hired, the drivers receive training which includes how to handle discipline issues. The routes are forming well. There will be cameras on all the busses. There will also be a phone or radio on all busses for communication.
C) Elementary Principal
Catherine Ring reported:
á The
end of the school year went well with many trips and assemblies.
á Summer
plans include the Arts Camp and Responsive Classroom Institute.
á She
will be taking two courses this summer.
á She
had a meeting with Penny Wendell to work on a supervision plan.
á The
August inservice day is planned.
D)
High School Principal
Penny Wendell reported:
á
The senior class trip went well with no reports of
misbehavior.
á
Graduation went smoothly.
á
Last week she attended a two-day conference on
constructivism. One of the
consultants will come back for a follow up.
á
This Sunday through Wednesday the leadership team will
be attending a conference.
á
She will be on vacation from July 15th through the 23rd.
á
On the 27th she will be reviewing the
advisor handbook for each level.
á
Summer cleaning is going well.
E)
SuperintendentŐs Report
Robert
Webster reported:
á
He met with Richard Sweet regarding the framing damage
around the windows.
á
He spoke with Carl Cooke to research the cause of the
window problems (i.e. why werenŐt end caps installed) All windows need to be
pulled and repaired.
á
He has prepared a letter to the Commissioner of
Education and General Services. He
will also send a copy to the selectmen.
á
He has two quotes on repairing/replacing the high
school boiler. There are 24
cracked tubes which will not pass inspection. $41,000 to retube the boiler. $128,940 or $117,574 to install two boilers. $77,400 to replace with like boiler.
á
He was not able to complete 21st Century
Grant due to a lack of time to gather the information required by the grant.
á
He does not feel it is prudent to pay signing bonuses
to new teachers this year due to lack of funds.
á
A budget freeze may be in place early this year due to
expensive school building problems.
Barrett Brewer suggested contacting John Dedham who
was the clerk of the works on the construction project.
7) ACTION ITEMS
1.
2004-05 Boys Junior Varsity Basketball Coach
Robert Webster nominated Nick
Wiberg as the Junior Varsity Basketball Coach. Motion by Brewer, second by
Cormir to approve Nick Wibert as coach.
Vote: 5/Y, 0/N.
2. Part-Time Volunteer Coordinator
Employment Agreement
Robert
Webster nominated Rebecca Hutchins for 20 hours per week at $16.00 per
hour. The vote on this position
was delayed pending the vote on the budget. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Brewer to approve Rebecca
Hutchins as Volunteer Coordinator.
Vote: 5/Y, 0/N.
3. Chemical Safety Coordinator
Robert
Webster nominated Michelle Gates as Chemical Safety Coordinator at $600.00
stipend. She will be in charge of
the instructional chemicals at the high school, not the maintenance
materials. Motion by Brewer,
second by Greenlaw to approve Michelle Gates as Chemical Safety
Coordinator. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N.
B. Acceptance of NCLB
Funds
Robert
Webster distributed a memo showing how the funds are used. We do not know the allocation amounts
for the coming school year. Motion
by Brewer, second by Eaton to accept the NCLB funds. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N.
C. Acceptance of an
Anonymous Donation
Robert Webster indicated $14.150.00 was anonymously
donated for 25% of the auditorium directorŐs salary. Motion by
Brewer, second by Greenlaw to accept anonymous donation. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N.
D. 2003-04 Budget Transfers
Robert Webster distributed a memo outlining
the projected over-expenditures. He recommended the transfer of $106,000 from
balances in the co-curricular, elementary maintenance, elem. principal,
improvement of instruction, school health, elem. guidance and high school
special education accounts to the elementary education, elementary special
education, elem. Library, high school library, school committee, high school
maintenance and transportation accounts.
Motion by Brewer, second by Greenlaw to make recommended budget
transfers. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N.
E. MaineŐs Ninth Grade Laptop Initiative
Robert
Webster indicated that he has not received any additional information from the
Department of Education.
Discussion held on laptop initiative and whether or not to purchase
computers. Motion by Brewer,
second by Greenlaw to table the issue until we receive additional information. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N.
8) DISCUSSION ITEMS
Robert
Webster indicated that he met with the administrators to discuss goals. Skip Greenlaw commented that there is a
lot to meet within one year.
Perhaps the list should be narrowed to be more realistic. Aimee Eaton indicated that the
maintenance plan seems to be missing.
This item will be discussed again at the next meeting. Catherine Ring commented that it is
helpful for staff to know what the priorities are.
B. Long
Range Planning Committee Membership and Objectives
Skip Greenlaw and Aimee Eaton will compile a list of
prospective committee members for the BoardŐs review.
C.
Review SuperintendentŐs 2003-04 Goals
Robert
Webster reported that he felt he achieved most of last yearŐs goals. He increased is visibility. Skip Greenlaw commented that he felt
Bob has had extreme success in a very difficult job. Webster indicated that he felt particularly good about
helping the new administrators. He
has completed his recertification process. Policy making consistent among the three school systems
would be the least successful area.
He asked for ideas for next yearŐs goals.
D.
Review of Contracted Services Bid Specifications
Small
changes made to bid form.
Discussion held on bid process.
1. Attendance Policy 3.01
Aimee Eaton suggested focusing more on the detriment
to the childrenŐs education rather than the extra work for the teachers. Mark Cormier questioned if anyone had
looked at how the absences affect grades.
Discussion held on the attendance policy.
2. Vacation Policy 5.09
No
changes made to policy. Policy is
ready for Action at the next meeting.
Motion by Brewer, second by Greenlaw to extend
meeting to 9:50 p.m. Vote:
5/Y,
0/N.
3. Mouth Guard Policy 7.12
No changes made to policy. Policy is ready for Action at the next meeting.
4. Climbing Wall Policy 7.13
No
changes made to policy. Policy is
ready for Action at the next meeting.
5. Student Discipline Policy 3.04
Policy is ready for second reading at the next meeting.
6. Student Suspension and Expulsion Policy
3.05
No changes made to policy. Policy is ready for Action at the next meeting.
F.
Legal Issues
Skip
Greenlaw suggested using an Ellsworth law firm rather than Drummond, Woodsum
from Portland to file any upcoming suit concerning the window problems in
Hancock County District Court.
9)
COMMUNICATIONS
The
Board received a thank you note from Bobbi Billings.
10) ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Greenlaw, second by Eaton to adjourn at 9:47 p.m. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N.
Respectfully submitted,
JoAnna Haskell