Deer Isle-Stonington CSD #13 School Committee
Meeting Minutes
Deer Isle-Stonington High School
Tuesday, February 1, 2005 at 6:30 P.M.
Board Members Present:
Walter Kumiega, Aimee Eaton, James Adams and Skip Greenlaw
Board Members Absent:
Barrett Brewer and Mark Cormier
Staff Present: Bruce Ives, Penny Wendell, Martha Jordan, Sally Dunham, Heather Barton-Lindloff, Rhonda Eaton, Matt Larsen
Guests: Joseph Babbitt, Dennis Rollins, David Walsh, Michaela Baldwin, Elwood Cobb, Alison Eaton, Jane Freeman, Josephine Jacobs, Walter Garcia, Bernadette Fairfax, Doreen Gray, Sean Gray
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:
Jim Adams commented that the parking during basketball games is out of control. Penny Wendell stated that they would need to assign someone to help with parking. The current parking situation is probably a fire violation.
4) Approval of the Agenda:
Removal of Elementary School PrincipalŐs report. Addition of Jane FreemanŐs report after High School PrincipalŐs report. Addition of 7. F. Grant from Maine Community Foundation and Island Education Foundation; 7.G. Agreement with Hancock County Technical Center; 7.H. Resolution from Skip Greenlaw. Move Discussion Item 8.D. to Action Item 7.I. Addition of Discussion Item on educational technician substitute pay. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Eaton, to approve agenda as amended. Vote: 4/Yes, 0/No.
5) Approval of the minutes of the January 4, 2005 meeting.
Addition of Cheryl ŇBrownÓ and correction of ŇMacDonnellÓ to the list of Guests. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Eaton, to approve the minutes of the January 4, 2005 meeting as amended. Vote: 4/Yes, 0/No.
6) REPORTS
A) Elementary Principal
No report given.
B) High School Principal
Penny Wendell reported:
á The semester has ended. The grades went out today.
á There are three new students this semester, two of which had left school, but have now returned.
á The baby project was a big hit. This was a real eye opener for many students. Gil Lacroix managed the project.
á Meetings have been held with the 9th graders to elicit information regarding the study skills and career prep classes. She is impressed with the students willingness to give constructive feedback.
á Recognition given to Bill Shaw, a retired college chemistry professor, who volunteers at the school. He has been working closely with and mentoring Michelle Gates.
We received the sad news of Marta HarringtonŐs death. Marta served as special education teacher in Sedgwick for many, many years. Skip Greenlaw commented that her husband, Jack, served on the school board for many years.
Skip Greenlaw questioned how the freshman grades were for the second semester as compared to the first. Wendell indicated that those statistics were not yet available.
Aimee Eaton questioned if driversŐ education classes would be available for the spring. Wendell indicated that the company that teaches the course is unavailable. She is hoping to have a staff member at the school become qualified to teach this course, but it will not be in time for the spring session.
C) Report from Jane Freeman
Jane Freeman reported:
She is working with the Healthy Island Project. She is a working towards her Masters in Social Work at the University of Maine. She has some experience with school gardens. This school garden was started about a year and a half ago, but then stalled out. She is working to encourage the garden use and to make it self-sustaining over time. School gardens allows: Children to have a place to be successful; A real partnership with the community; Allows a relationship with the garden club; Speaks to many of the Maine Learning Results. Community members have donated many hours towards this project. She has spoken with the teachers who would appreciate the school boardŐs supports.
Aimee Eaton commented that this was a good presentation. However, she would like to see an outline of the project itself.
D) Assistant SuperintendentŐs Report
Bruce Ives reported:
á He appreciates Jane FreemanŐs work with the garden project and relating it to the Maine Learning Results .
á He distributed Sports Done Right booklet. There was a presentation at the Augusta Civic Center about a week ago regarding school sports. This topic will be on next monthŐs agenda.
á Bruce Williams, Tim Robbins, Kim Lord and Nick Wiberg have submitted their resignations.
á YesterdayŐs workshop was cancelled. The assessment committee was to conduct the workshop and didnŐt feel they should go forward at this time given MartaŐs recent death.
7) ACTION ITEMS
A) Request for Memorial Naming of DISES Athletic Fields
The request is that the field behind the elementary school be named the Joseph Lane Brown Memorial Field. Walter Kumiega commented that points were made by Dennis Rollins and Joe Babbitt that warrant the BoardŐs consideration. Jim Adams stated that he feels the Board needs a policy on this issue. He feels we shouldnŐt name the grounds or buildings after students. Discussion held on naming of the athletic field. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Eaton to approve naming the elementary school athletic field the Joseph Lane Brown Memorial Field. Vote: 3/Yes, 1/No (Adams).
B) Ratification of Support Staff Negotiated Agreement
Walter Kumiega thanked the negotiators for their hard work. Skip Greenlaw noted a correction on Page 8 to be made before the contract goes into final draft. Discussion held on contract. Motion by Eaton, second by Greenlaw to approve the Support Staff Negotiated Agreement. Vote: 4/Yes, 0/No.
C) 2003-04 School Financial Audit
Bruce Ives reported that the Board needs to accept the audit. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Eaton to approve 2003-04 financial audit. Vote: 4/Yes, 0/No.
D) Nomination of a Substitute Junior Varsity Basketball Coach
Bruce Ives nominated Darren Eaton as substitute Junior Varsity Basketball Coach. Motion by Eaton, second by Greenlaw to approve Darren Eaton as Junior Varsity Basketball Coach. Vote: 4/Yes, 0/No.
E) 2005 School Committee Election Warrant
The warrant was reviewed and signed by the Board members. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Eaton to approve the 2005 School Committee Election Warrant. Vote: 4/Yes, 0/No.
F) Island Education Foundation Science Program Grant
Bruce Ives reported that the Island Education Foundation has given the school a grant in the amount of $500 for Maine Discovery Museum staffer Tony SohnŐs visit for science presentations. The school has also received a grant in the amount of $1,000 from Carol Gatwols for instrumental and vocal scores. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Adams to accept the grants in the amount of $500 and $1,000. Vote: 4/Yes, 0/No.
G) Agreement with Hancock County Technical Center
Bruce Ives explained that this is a cooperative agreement between the school and HCTC. This is a yearly agreement. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Eaton to approve the agreement with HCTC. Vote: 4/Yes, 0/No.
H) Resolution
Skip Greenlaw expressed thanks to Barrett Brewer for her years of service. He proposed a resolution to be presented. Bruce Ives proposed some changes to the resolution. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Eaton to approve the resolution to be presented to Barrett Brewer. Vote: 4/Yes, 0/No.
I) School Bus Reduction Plan
Bruce Ives commented that Robert WebsterŐs notes are self explanatory. Walter Kumiega commented that the new bus runs do not seem any longer than the runs already in place. Elwood Cobb distributed a diagram of the runs. He would like to see the parent survey distributed. The bus company has agreed that if we need to add the bus run back at a later date, it would honor the original contract price. Discussion held on how to inform parents of the new bus run. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Adam to reduce the bus runs from seven to six effective after February vacation. Vote: 4/Yes, 0/No.
8) DISCUSSION ITEMS
A) High School Master Schedule
Martha Jordan and Penny Wendell reported on the proposed master schedule for the 05-06 school year. They are proposing a four by four schedule. Each student would have four, eighty minute classes each day. This way the student would receive credit for a particular course in one semester rather than the entire year. Jordan distributed an information sheet with advantages and disadvantages listed. Jordan and Wendell indicated that the staff is endorsing the change in the schedule. Jordan highlighted that students may be able to obtain graduation credits early and that this scheduling system may work out better for drop outs who wish to return to school. This schedule also simplifies preparation for the staff and students as they will only have to prepare for three or four classes on a weekly basis rather than six or eight.
Aimee Eaton questioned what happens with absenteeism with the intensive schedule. Also, she expressed concern for those students who may need help with the courses.
C) French/Spanish IV
Penny Wendell commented that the school board approved adding Spanish III to the high school curriculum last year. This year, there are five students who would like to take French IV and six students who would like to take Spanish IV. In the past, it has been the schoolŐs policy to only offer four years of French and two years of Spanish in their curriculum. Last yearŐs addition of Spanish III required additional teaching time which was generously supported by the school board. Wendell questioned if the school board wished to add additional teaching time next year for the addition of Spanish IV. Discussion held on additional classes and scheduling. Skip Greenlaw expressed concerns over funding and class sizes.
E) 2005 Board Goal Setting Workshop
Skip Greenlaw suggested that the administrators put together information for the BoardŐs review. Aimee Eaton commented that she was not comfortable with the format of the goals. She suggested that perhaps the same goals should be reprioritized. She didnŐt feel another workshop was in order. Discussion held on type of workshop to have for the upcoming year. Agreement was reached that the workshop should be held on a Saturday in mid to late March or early April.
F) Community Forum
The Long Range Planning Committee will prepare and conduct this forum.
G) School Funding/Tax Reform Bill LD#1
Bruce Ives reported that we have not received any additional information concerning this issue. The superintendents have been invited a workshop on February 11 by Maine School Management to review the new subsidy form. Robert Webster will be attending the forum. However, information is still being released. Skip Greenlaw indicated that it was his understanding that there would be flat funding this year.
B) High School Tennis Club (taken out of order)
Matt Larsen indicated that next year there would probably be 8 or 9 girls and 8 boys who wish to play tennis. The school is presently competing at the club level. Because of a lack of courts, the school cannot host matches. The team presently practices at the French Camp. There is only one coach for the team. Larsen then explained how students who wished to play at the varsity level could attach themselves to another school. This would allow students to play unseeded at the tournament. He advises staying at the club level at the present time.
H) Food Service Financial Software
Jim Adams reported on the technology committee meeting. Bernie Kolysher attended this meeting. The committee is not in favor of purchasing the LunchBytes program. The Brooklin school has modified a spreadsheet program to suit their needs. The Sedgwick school has a program that does not work well for them. However, Kolysher felt it could be fixed. The Committee felt that we could modify Filemaker Pro to serve our needs. The recommendation for the long-term solution is to look into Power School, which is an Apple program for student information with a lunch program component. MDI uses this program. The committee feels that something that handles all student information is a much better investment. Michaela Baldwin expressed her concern regarding the technology investments at the school.
9) COMMUNICATIONS
10) Executive Session on Teacher Contract Negotiations pursuant to 1 M.R.S.A. ¤ 405(6)(D)
Motion by Greenlaw, second by Eaton to enter executive session at 8:48 p.m. Vote: 4/Yes, 0/No. Participating were Walter Kumiega, Aimee Eaton, Jim Adams, Skip Greenlaw, Bruce Ives. Returned to regular session at 8:57 p.m.
11) Adjournment
Motion by Greenlaw, second by Eaton to adjourn at 8:58 p.m. Vote: 4/Yes, 0/No.
Respectfully submitted,
JoAnna Haskell
Administrative Assistant