Deer Isle-Stonington CSD #13 School Committee
Meeting Minutes
Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School
Tuesday, June 7, 2005 at 6:30 P.M.
Board Members Present:
Walter Kumiega, Aimee Eaton, Mark Cormier, Jim Adams and Skip Greenlaw (6:35)
Board Member Absent: Joe Babbitt
Staff Present: Robert Webster, Penny Wendell, Catherine Ring, Mike Wood, Ellen Lamerson, Linda McCauley
Guests: Isaac Kastenbaum, K. Kral, Ken Kral, Bette Kral, Kisha Jones, K. Jones, K. Klemenz, Sonda Klemenz, M. Oliver, Sandy Oliver, Ronny Oliver, Harry Vickerson, L. Vickerson, Phillip Jones, Josephine Jacobs
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:
K.Kral asked for an Executive Session on a student matter to be added to the agenda. Move 8.A. up to after reports. Motion by Eaton, second by Adams to approve agenda as written. Vote: 3/Y, 1/N (Kumiega). Ken Kral stated that he wished the Board to reconsider having the Executive Session. Eaton indicated that she would reconsider her motion to include the executive session if approved by one of the principals. Penney Wendell recommended that the Board have an executive session of no more than 10 minutes. Motion by Eaton, second by Adams to include the Executive Session and move 8.A. to after the reports. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N.
5) Approval of the minutes of the May 3 and May 9, 2005 meetings and the May 19, 2005 annual district budget meeting.
Motion by Eaton, second by Cormier, to approve the minutes of the May 3 and May 9, 2005 meetings and the May 19, 2005 annual district budget meeting. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N.
5.A.) EXECUTIVE SESSION on a student matter
Motion by Adams, second by Eaton to enter into executive session on a student matter at 6:35 p.m.. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N. Participating were Aimee Eaton, Mark Cormier, Walter Kumiega, James Adams, Skip Greenlaw, Robert Webster, Penny Wendell, Mike Wood, K. Kral, Ken Kral and Bette Kral. Returned to regular session at 6:50 p.m.
6) REPORTS
A) Elementary Principal
Catherine Ring reported:
á The school is having a fine arts festival. The art is being displayed in the hallways. She encourages everyone to stop in and take a look.
á The 7th grade had a very successful trip to Camp Kieve. Mr. VoisineÕs rafting trip with his student was also very successful.
á 35 letters have been sent to parents recommending summer school.
á Dr. Barros recently visited the school. He met with various classes and discussed the rain forest preservation in Costa Rica. The Island Education Foundation gave the funding for this visits.
á There will be an honors banquet this week.
á Grades 3 through 5 will be enjoying hobby week. The teachers are offering various workshops.
á There is a band concert tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m.
á On Friday, there will be an all school morning meeting to honor Barrett and Sebert Brewer.
Skip Greenlaw questioned if the summer school is only being offered to students who are failing. Ring commented that the Grade 3 through 5 students are recommended by their teachers for the program. In Grades 6 through 8 the students who failed two or more subjects are automatically recommended.
B) High School Principal
Penny Wendell reported:
á She thanked Dick Powell for his years of service. Powell will be retiring at the end of this year.
á She thanked Peter Friedell and Dana Douglass for taking over the English position.
á She thanked Katy Helman for the 7th Annual Art Show. Again, it was a wonderful showing of the art work.
á She thanked the chaperones for the senior class trip: Tom Duym, Keith Hoover, Lee Lehto and Kristin Eberdt. The trip went well.
á She thanked Ellen Lamerson for the musical performance in the cafeteria. Four students performed their midterm project.
á The seniors are taking their finals.
á Grades 9 through 11 finals will be taken from June 17 to June 22.
á There is an awards ceremony on June 23rd.
á The industrial arts and marine trades programs will be holding a show of their work. The show will be on June 15 and 16 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
á Tom Duym has received a $2,800 grant from the Department of Marine Trade for a project.
á At the prom, there were reports of students huffing and using LSD. The school nurse has sent home letters to the parents describing symptoms of drug use and the hazards.
C) Superintendent
Robert Webster reported:
á Phil Duprey from Maine School Management will be visiting the schools on June 16 for a safety review.
á He distributed information on the BoardÕs self-evaluation.
á There is a Union school board meeting scheduled for June 23 in Brooklin. The meeting should be brief as it is for Heather Barton-LindloffÕs contract confirmation.
á He has received a resignation from Kristin Eberdt as an ed tech at DISES.
á He is compiling a reading program report to be discussed at the July meeting.
á He has been through two rounds of revisions to the revolving renovation fund application.
á He has been in contact with Beardsley, Williamson and Beardsley about filing a tort claim against D.L. Poulin to recover the $15,000 paid to Richard Sweet for the school repairs.
8) ACTION ITEMS (Taken out of Order)
A) Requests for January 2006 High School Completion
Penny Wendell commented that with the new 4 by 4 schedule, there will be students who may finish their course requirements by the end of the first semester. This year four students are in this situation. They have had discussions with Martha Jordan, the guidance counselor, who has explained their options. L. Vickerson, M. Oliver and K. Jones stated that they would like to complete school in January in order to earn money for college. K. Klemenz would like to complete school in January in order to attend basic training for the national guard before college. Walter Kumiega asked if they would still be able to participate in co-curricular activities. Mike Wood stated they would not as they needed to carry a minimum course load to participate. However, none of the students participate in co-curricular activities. Martha Jordan will maintain contact with the students until their actual graduation in June. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Adams to allow the students to not attend school for the second semester of their senior year. Vote: 4/Yes, 1/No (Eaton).
7) DISCUSSION ITEMS
A) Music Curriculum
Robert Webster commented that Catherine Ring had distributed copies of the curriculum which Ellen Lamerson has prepared at the last meeting. Lamerson gave an overview of the curriculum and stated that when she was compiling the information she started with the national standards and included the Maine Learning Results. She commented that the Maine Learning Results does not include definition for performing arts. Skip Greenlaw questioned if all the information can be covered by one teacher. Lamerson replied that she included only what she teaches. Catherine Ring commented that she feels it is difficult to cover all the information on one class per week. She would like to see the arts be more integrated into the regular class curriculum. Aimee Eaton asked if the library had a audio section. She would also like to see music appreciation as an elective in the high school courses.
B) Language Arts Curriculum Addendum
Skip Greenlaw asked that this item be put off until consultation with the Superintendent.
C) Safety Committee Report
Robert Webster commented that the safety committee report was presented at the last meeting. He has received a price quote for the security cameras. Aimee Eaton suggested Webster contact the Town of Stonington regarding the cameras located on the fish pier. Eaton also questioned the drop off areas at the high school. Penny Wendell suggested a new traffic flow pattern for the drop off areas may help. Discussion held on where students should be dropped off by parents. Walter Kumiega stated that the parking lot lines would need to be repainted this summer. Mark Cormier commented that the use of rocks or posts to line the walkway may cause plowing problems in the winter. Discussion held on what type of barrier to use.
D) Student Transportation
Robert Webster stated that the bus company has been providing poor service lately with doubled up runs and late arrivals. First Student has a new person replacing Tim Osnoe as district manager. Hopefully next year will be better. Skip Greenlaw questioned if First Student had violated their contract and perhaps we should re-advertise. Walter Kumiega stated that there was a clause in the contract for a monetary penalty. Webster indicated that he had corresponded with First Student regarding receiving a reimbursement for the double runs and late arrivals. Greenlaw questioned if we have received a response to the surveys. Webster indicated that the responses are coming in.
E) Policies
1. Head Cook Job Description Policy 9.06
Under Reports To: Òconsults withÓ will be deleted. No other changes made to the policy. Policy is ready for second reading at the next meeting.
2. Assistant Cook Job Description Policy 9.06A
Addition to the fourth qualification of Òusing language appropriate for a school setting.Ó Discussion regarding who the assistant cooks report to and who assigns their duties. Policy is ready for second reading at the next meeting.
3. Crisis Response Policy 7.10
No changes made to the policy. Greenlaw stated that the school should have a list of emergency numbers readily available. Also, evacuation plans should be enlarged and placed by the doorways.
4. Teacher Evaluation Policy 5.01
Discussion held on dates for evaluations. Under No. 9, second sentence, delete Òfifty percent (50%) ofÓ and insert ÒtheÓ. No other changes to the policy.
8) ACTION ITEMS
B) Donations
Robert Webster stated that he recommends that the Board accept a $2,800 grant from the Lobster Red Board for the marine trades program and a $1,000 grant from the Maine Community Garden Project for the greenhouse project. Also, the PilgrimÕs Inn has donated $1,000 to support the Obyssey of the Mind TeamÕs trip to the Nationals in Colorado. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Cormier to accept the grants. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N.
C) Policies
1.Truancy Policy 3.01A
Robert Webster indicated that he had included AdamsÕ editing suggestion. Motion by Eaton, second by Greenlaw to approve the Truancy Policy 3.01A. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N.
2. Student Placement Policy 3.03
Discussion held on retention language. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Eaton to approve the Student Placement Policy 3.03. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N.
D) Personnel
1. 2005-06 Support Personnel Employment Agreements
Administrative Assistants Hours Rate Per Hour
Kathie Rossignol 8 $14.50
Tiffany Dauk 8 $10.25
Rhonda Eaton 8 $12.50
Bookkeeper
Jeannine Buckminster 4.8 $14.50
Guidance Secretary
Susan Siebert 5 $13.25
Custodians:
Ricky Eaton 8 $14.25
Gerauld Hutchinson 8 $15.05
Randall Mitchell 8 $15.05
Sean Phelan 8 $10.50
Dianne Atherton 8 $14.50
Head Cooks:
Kate Hunt 6 $15.05
Linda McCauley 8 $15.05
Assistant Cooks
Heidi Nolan 2 $11.50
Rosalie Jones 8 $15.05
Tammy Powers 6 $11.25
Educational Technicians
Amy Billings ES 7 $10.75
Christine DeGozzaldi ES 7 $14.00
Maria Duddy ES 7 $10.50
Sally Dunham ES 7 $14.25
Henry Davis HS 7 $12.50
April Gross ES 7 $10.25
Anne Hardie HS 7 $10.00
Dawn Nault ES 7 $11.75
Cari Quitereo ES 7 $10.75
Kathi Ryan HS 7 $14.00
Josephine Sullivan ES 7 $12.50
Kathy Turner ES 7 $13.75
Motion by Greenlaw, second by Cormier to approve 2005-06 support personnel employment agreements as listed. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N.
2. 2005-06 Co-Curricular Employment Agreements
Robert Webster reported that a few of the positions havenÕt been filled because of lack of a candidate or more than one candidate. Boys varsity soccer and varsity cheerleading should not be acted upon. Discussion held on hiring the spouse of a board member for a coaching position. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Adams to employ individuals listed except for varsity boys soccer and varsity cheerleading and adding Rhonda Turner to the senior class advisor list. Vote: 5/Yes, 0/No.
3. Special Education Ed. Tech.
Greenlaw requested an executive session on this issue.
4. High School Foreign Language Teacher
Robert Webster nominated Judith Hotchkiss who has a masters degree with three years experience. She was previously employed by GSA. She will be placed on the salary scale at $32,481. Webster also requested that the Board approve the $1,000 signing grant allowed by the teachers contract. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Eaton to accept the SuperintendentÕs recommendation and employ Judith Hotchkiss at a salary of $32,481 plus $1,000 signing bonus as the new high school foreign language teacher. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N.
5. Employment of Summer Custodial Staff and Employment of Summer Programs Personnel
Linda McCauley $15.95
Rosalie Keen $15.95
Robert Webster indicated that Linda McCauley and Rosalie Keen are interested in returning for summer staff. The teachers and ed techs are for the special education summer program and regular summer program. The teachers are paid at their per diem rate. The ed techs receive $17.00 per hour. Discussion held on summer pay rates. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Cormier to approve recommended summer program, special education staffing and summer custodial staff at recommended rates. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N.
E) Long Range Planning Committee Survey
Robert Webster indicated that he had sent out a proposed survey as an e-mail attachment. Discussion held on survey questions and the publicÕs ability to give meaningful answers. Consensus reached to e-mail any changes to the survey to Webster. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Eaton for the Board members to submit changes to the Long Range Planning Committee to rework the survey and send to the Board for final approval by e-mail. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N.
F) Lawn Mowing and Elementary Athletic Field Bids
Robert Webster reported that Terry Siebert submitted a bid for $3,500. This is the same price as last year. Terry did a good job. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Eaton to accept the bid in the amount of $3,500 for lawn mowing from Terry Siebert. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N.
G) Certification of Budget Validation Referendum Results
Robert Webster reported that the school budget passed in the recent referendum. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Adams to certify the school budget results. Vote: 5/Yes, 0/No.
H) 2005-06 CSD Town Tax Assessments
Budget Adult Ed.
Deer Isle $3,108,746.70 $7,099.95
Stonington $1,587,245.30 $3,625.05
Motion by Greenlaw, second by Adams to approve the town tax assessments. Vote: 5/Yes, 0/No.
I) Employee Recognition Grant
Robert Webster reported that the committee recommends Dick Powell for his contributions to the school over the last 30 + years. He is a truly outstanding member of the teaching staff. The committee also recommends Josephine Sullivan for her work as an ed tech. She regularly goes above and beyond her duties in the Life Skills classroom. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Eaton to approve the recommendations and grant $1,000 each to Dick Powell and Josephine Sullivan with deep appreciation. Vote: 5/Yes, 0/No.
EXECUTIVE SESSION on a personnel matter.
Motion by Greenlaw, second by Eaton to enter into executive session on a personnel matter at 9:20 p.m. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N. Participating were Walter Kumiega, Aimee Eaton, James Adams, Skip Greenlaw, Mark Cormier and Robert Webster. Returned to regular session at 9:37 p.m.
8) ACTION ITEMS (continued)
D) Personnel
3. Special Education Ed. Tech.
Robert Webster nominated Lynnette Grindle as a Special Education ed. tech. for the remainder of the 04-05 school year at a rate of $11.75 per hour with health benefits. She will serve a probationary period. Motion by Adams, second by Eaton to approve Lynnette Grindle as a special education ed. tech. at $11.75 per hour with health insurance. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N.
9) COMMUNICATIONS
10) Adjournment
Motion by Greenlaw, second by Adams to adjourn at 9:37 p.m. Vote: 5/Yes, 0/No.
Respectfully submitted,
JoAnna Haskell
Administrative Assistant