DEER ISLE – STONINGTON CSD SCHOOL COMMITTEE

SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES

August 23, 2004

Board Members Present: Jim Adams, Aimee Eaton, Walter Kumiega, Barrett Brewer,

Skip Greenlaw and Mark Cormier

Staff Present: Heidi Nolan, Kathleen Turner, Mike Wood, Robert Webster and Catherine Ring

Citizens and Guests Present: Leslie Carr, Gil Lacroix, Bruce Williams, Joseph Babbitt and Robert Braun

1. Call to Order/Quorum

Chairman Kumiega opened the meeting and declared a quorum at 6:37 p.m.

2. Moment of Silence

A moment of silence was observed.

3. Citizen’s Comments

There were no citizen comments

4. Approval of the Agenda

Motion by Brewer, second by Eaton, to approve the agenda with the deletion of the action item on nomination of a Spanish teacher, addition of nominations of a high school golf coach, elementary athletic director, and junior high boys soccer coach and an executive session on a personnel matter. Vote: 6 Yes; 0 No.

4A. Executive Session

Motion by Greenlaw, second by Brewer, to enter executive session on a personnel matter under the provisions of 1 M.R.S.A. § 405(6)(C). Vote: 6 yes; 0 no. Jim Adams, Aimee Eaton, Walter Kumiega, Barrett Brewer, Skip Greenlaw, Mark Cormier and Robert Webster participated in the executive session. The Board returned to regular session at 7:11 p.m.

5. ACTION ITEMS

A. Personnel Nominations

1. Webster nominated Bruce Williams as high school English/study skills teacher.

Brewer stated that, although she did not oppose all of the nominations, she would vote ‘no’ on the nominations because the interview committees were not set up according to school policy. Motion by Adams, second by Greenlaw, to approve the teacher nomination of Bruce Williams at a salary of $29,975. Vote: 5 yes; 1 no (Brewer).

2. Webster nominated Gil Lacroix as high school social studies/health/study skills

teacher. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Adams, to approve the teacher nomination of Gil Lacroix at a salary of $50,307. Vote: 5 yes; 1 no (Brewer).

3. Webster nominated Greg Aldrich as high school golf coach for the 2004 season.

Brewer asked about the composition of the interview committee. Webster noted that, with only one applicant, the athletic director did the interview. Motion by Brewer, second by Adams, to approve the nomination of Greg Aldrich at a stipend of $1,400. Vote: 6 yes; 0 no.

4. Webster nominated Kathleen Turner for a one-year position as sixth grade

teacher. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Adams, to approve the teacher nomination of Kathleen Turner at a salary of $27,405. Vote: 3 yes; 3 no (Brewer, Cormier and Eaton).

5. Webster nominated Kristen Eberdt for a high school educational technician position working with special education students at a wage of $9.90 per hour. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Eaton, to approve the nomination of Kristen Eberdt as an educational technician at $9.90 per hour. Vote: 6 yes; 0 no.

6. Webster recommended Board authorization for the superintendent to employ long term substitutes in the fourth and sixth grade teaching positions. Motion by Eaton, second by Brewer, to authorize the superintendent to employ long term substitute teachers for grades four and six on condition that at least two Board members are consulted on the decision and that the Board be informed. Vote: 6 yes; 0 no.

7. Webster nominated Kristen Eberdt for the elementary athletic director position. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Adams, to approve the nomination of Kristen Eberdt as elementary athletic director at a stipend of $3,250. Vote: 6 yes; 0 no.

8. Webster nominated Joseph Babbitt as the junior high boys soccer coach. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Adams, to approve the nomination of Joseph Babbitt as junior high boys soccer coach at a stipend of $1,600. Vote: 6 yes; 0 no.

B. Support Staff Sick Leave Bank Request

Webster provided copies of the sick leave bank request and a letter from the support staff association approving the request. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Brewer, to approve Dianne Atherton’s request for fifteen paid sick days from the sick leave bank. Vote: 6 yes and 0 no.

C. MSMA Tax Cap Resolution

The superintendent presented a Maine School Management Association resolution in support of research on possible legal problems with some provisions of the Tax Cap Referendum. The Board did not act on the resolution.

D. Reduction in Assistant Cook Hours

The superintendent requested a reduction in the hours of the assistant cook at the high school from four to two hours per day. Brewer questioned the need for Board action on employee hours. The decision on the assistant cook’s hours was left to the superintendent.

E. Attendance Policy

After considerable discussion and explanation, there was a motion by Greenlaw,

second by Eaton, to approve the Attendance Policy 3.01. Vote: 5 yes; 1 no

(Adams).

6. DISCUSSION ITEM

A. Hiring Process

Eaton raised several issues that had come to her attention during the recent round of interviews for teaching positions: the candidate screening process, problems with availability of candidates’ application materials for the interview committee prior to the choice of applicants for interviews, and the process of choosing candidates for interviews. Brewer pointed out the composition of the interview committees was not in line with CSD policy. Board members made a variety of suggestions for changes to the Hiring Policy. The superintendent will draft revisions for consideration by the policy committee.

6. Adjournment

Motion by Greenlaw, second by Adams, to adjourn the meeting at 8:18 p.m. Vote: 6 yes; 0 no.

Respectfully Submitted,

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Superintendent of Schools