DEER ISLE – STONINGTON CSD SCHOOL COMMITTEE

SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES

March 31, 2005

 

Board Members Present: Walter Kumiega, Jim Adams, Aimee Eaton, Skip Greenlaw,

Mark Cormier at 6:10 p.m. and Joseph Babbitt at 6:17 p.m.

Staff Present: Ken Keen, Catherine Ring, Penny Wendell, and Robert Webster

Citizens & Guests Present: Isaac Kestenbaum

 

1.      Call to Order/Quorum

Chair Kumiega opened the meeting and declared a quorum at 6:05 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 Eaton, second by Greenlaw, to approve the agenda as presented. Vote: 4 Yes; 0 No.

 

5. ACTION ITEM

A.    Assistant Varsity Softball Coach

Webster recommended employment of Keith Hoover as assistant varsity softball coach. Motion by Eaton, second by Greenlaw, to approve the employment of Keith Hoover as assistant varsity softball coach for the 2005 season at a stipend of $800. Vote: 4 Yes; 0 No.

 

6. Executive Session for an administrator evaluation

Motion by Greenlaw, second by Eaton, to enter executive session at 6:07 p.m. for review of an administrator evaluation pursuant to 1 M.R.S.A. § 405(6)(A). Vote: 4 Yes; 0 No. Ken Keen, Eaton, Babbitt at 6:17 p.m., Kumiega, Cormier, Greenlaw, Adams and Webster participated in the executive session. The school committee returned to regular session at 6:28 p.m.

 

7. DISCUSSION ITEMS

A. Warrant Procedures

        Kumiega explained that a majority of the school committee is needed to approve a warrant for accounts payable but not for the payroll. The treasurer and the superintendent are authorized to sign checks so that the payroll will always go out on time. Babbitt questioned the usefulness of signing a warrant since he did not think it reasonable to expect school committee members to audit every check, duplicating the work done by the treasurer. Greenlaw agreed to check if the requirement for a majority of school committee signatures was set by state statute or school committee policy.

 

B. 2005-06 School Budget

        Webster presented a memo with details on possible budget reductions that would achieve a budget increase of three percent. Ring explained an alternate staffing idea to address the needs of students in grades three and five, which had been highlighted at the special meeting on March 24^th. She proposed one third grade class for next year, no ed. tech. for grade five and the same number of teacher positions. The teacher who would have had a separate third grade would teach third and fifth grade students using smaller, flexible groupings of students in cooperation with one third and two fifth grade teachers. This alternative will provide instruction by a certified teacher instead of support from an ed. tech., provide better classroom management, and take full advantage of smaller instructional groups by concentrating instruction with students who need it most. This ‘flex’ position would be in place until 2006 when reduction of a position can be achieved as the result of a retirement. After reviewing the items in detail, discussing pros and cons for specific suggested cuts, and considering some alternative cuts not on Webster’s memo, there was a school committee consensus for a D raft #2 budget that included all of the suggested reductions except the half-time volunteer coordinator position and the fourth day of locally funded gifted/talented/enrichment position. Webster estimated that this would result in a 2.9% budget increase prior to the addition of funds for administrators’ contracts.

       

7. Executive Session

Motion by Eaton, second by Greenlaw, to enter executive session at 8:11 p.m. for negotiation of administrator contract terms pursuant to 1 M.R.S.A. § 405(6)(D). Vote: 6 Yes; 0 No. Eaton, Kumiega, Babbitt, Greenlaw, Adams, Wendell, and Webster participated in the executive session. The school committee returned to regular session at 8:55 p.m.

 

8. Adjournment

Motion by Eaton, second by Greenlaw, to adjourn the meeting at 8:55 p.m. Vote: 6 yes; 0 no.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

___________________________________

Superintendent of Schools