Deer Isle-Stonington CSD #13 School Committee

Meeting Minutes

Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School

Tuesday, September 6, 2005 at 6:30 P.M.

Board Members Present:

Walter Kumiega, Aimee Eaton, Joseph Babbitt, James Adams, Mark Cormier (6:35) and Skip Greenlaw (6:43)

Staff Present: Robert Webster, Catherine Ring, Penny Wendell, Rosalie Keen, Ken Keen, Tim Ferrell, Matt Larsen

Guests: Isaac Kastenbaum, Robert Braun, Sherm Hutchins, Elwood Cobb, Linda Nelson, Chandler Barbour

1) Call to Order and Declaration of a Quorum:

Chair Kumiega called the meeting to order and declared a quorum at 6:32 P.M.

2) Moment of Silence:

A moment of silence was observed.

3) Citizen Comments:

4) Approval of the Agenda:

Motion by Babbitt, second by Adams to approve agenda as presented. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N.

5) Approval of the minutes of the August 2 and August 17, 2005 meetings.

Motion by Eaton, second by Babbitt, to approve the minutes of the August 2 and August 17, 2005 meetings. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N.

6) REPORTS

A. Elementary School Assistant Principal

Catherine Ring reported:

· As of August 31, the enrollment is 268 for the K-8 elementary school

· Two very productive inservice days were held before school started.

· The beginning of school has gone smoothly. The dismissal process still needs to be ironed out.

· We have one remaining vacancy.

· Two open houses are planned. The K-2 open house will be on September 20. The 3-8 open house will be on September 22.

· The first newsletter will go out this week.

2. High School Principal

Penny Wendell reported:

· Two very productive inservice days were held before school started.

· There are 181 students currently enrolled. 13 are from off island.

· There will be an open house on September 15.

· The freshman day at the beginning of school went well. The senior class students came in and mentored.

· Lesley Carr and James Kane have assisted Bernie Kolysher in setting up the new computer lab. There are 20 more computers coming in to replace older models.

· Thanks go to many volunteers who donated many hours to work on the high school ball field. The infield has been worked on at no cost to us.

· The school computers were infected by a virus the week before school started.

· Karen Billings is working with the high school 9^th and 10^th grade classes to assess their reading levels.

Wendell distributed a report tracking the impact the study skills class has on student grades. There were no students who failed 4 or 5 classes last year. Jim Adams asked what the make up of the study skills course is this year. Wendell reported that all Freshmen students will take the class the first semester this year.

Aimee Eaton questioned if the new loading and unloading areas for the busses had been established. Wendell stated that presently, the students are being dropped off at the front of the school. However, the lines in the parking lot have been painted. Ken Keen is working on getting a fence installed and Wendell is looking for signs.

3. Superintendent

Robert Webster reported:

• Carolyn Heller has indicated that the first payroll has been produced with the new accounting software.
• He has received the Learning Results review procedure from the Department of Education. The Department of Education will be assessing all schools. Each unit is to form a team of teachers, administrators, parents and students. Bruce Ives will head up this project in conjunction with principals. Board representatives will be needed. Six school units, one of which is U93, will be the pilot the project first. The larger schools will then be assessed. Webster expects U76 will be assessed sometime in November or December. The project will be completed by January 15, 2006.
• Webster distributed the final 04-05 financial statement to the Board. There will be an approximate carry over of $120,000. $55,000 of this amount is included in the 05-06 budget.
• The MEA test results have been received. The principals will review with the staff. This item will be on the agenda in October.
• Peter Dane reported that he has been unsuccessful in getting D.L. Poulin to reimburse the school the $15,000 for the repairs. The next step will be arbitration. The school will need to retain a litigator for the arbitration at a cost of between $2,000 to $3,000. Webster will notify the Bureau of General Services.
• Webster introduced Tim Ferrell, the new custodian.

Robert Braun questioned how the community members will be selected. Webster indicated that he will invite people to join the committee. Webster also indicated that in the past advertising has been done with little success.

Mark Cormier questioned who received the food service contracts. Webster indicated that Country Kitchen received the bread bid and Oakhurst Dairy received the milk bid.

D. Transportation Committee

Robert Webster distributed a new driver list and reported:

· There have been problems from the start of school with Brooklin having the lion’s share.

· This afternoon a Brooklin bus broke down and there was no bus to replace it.

· There appear to be no extra drivers. Driver turnover is one of our “outs” in the contract.

Walter Kumiega commented that we should not be paying full price for a supervisor that is not there. Joe Babbitt questioned if any letters had been written outlining our concerns. Webster indicated that he had sent one letter in August, but would follow up with First Student. Elwood Cobb commented that according to the contract a district manager would be on call 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Also, an onsite manager is to be at the trailer. Aimee Eaton questioned if we had received a reimbursement for reduced mileage. Webster indicated that the contracted mileage was not met. A rebate of approximately $30,000 may be taken off this year’s bill. Discussion held on bus company and problems. Consensus reached that Webster should follow up with letters to the company regarding concerns.

E. Maintenance Committee

Robert Webster reported:

· Painting is completed.

· There has been no resolution with D.L. Poulin.

· The DISES hot water heater may be able to be repaired less expensively than originally thought.

· Last part of the marine trades building roof has been completed.

Ken Keen reported that the boiler is a glass-lined tank and the lining is cracked. The tank will have to be replaced. Aimee Eaton questioned the selling of the building materials. Keen reported that these were left over materials that we do not have space to store.

7) ACTION ITEMS

A. Teacher Evaluation Policy 5.01

Discussion held on timing of evaluations. A reference to the procedure should be added to the end of policy. Skip Greenlaw questioned the amount of notice given to someone who would not be renewed. Motion by Eaton, second by Greenlaw to approve the policy as amended. Vote: 6/Y, 0/N.

2. 2005-06 Snow Removal and Sanding Bid Award

Kumiega read a bid from Danny Eaton in the amount of $50.00 per hour and $40.00 per yard of sand and salt. This is the same price as last year. Motion by Babbitt, second by Greenlaw to accept the bid. Vote: 6/Y, 0/N.

3. Security Camera Installation

Robert Webster distributed estimates for the security cameras from Curt Haskell in the amount of $6,907 and Scott Ladoux in the amount of $5150. Webster suggested that the technology committee should review the bids to make sure we have comparable proposals. Aimee Eaton would like to see equipment ideas from Ladoux. Eaton also reported on the experience Stonington has had on the Fish Pier. The issue will be referred to the technology committee for report in October.

4. Deer Isle-Stonington H.S. Co-Curricular Handbook

Discussion held on the changes to the policy. Paragraph B.2. on Page 2 was removed. Motion by Eaton, second by Babbitt to approve the H.S. Co-Curricular Handbook as amended. Vote: 6/Y, 0/N.

5. Tutor Compensation

Robert Webster reported that we currently pay tutors $10.00 per hour. We are having difficulty retaining tutors. He recommends raising the tutor compensation to $15.00 per hour. Aimee Eaton questioned how many tutoring hours we use on average. Discussion held on tutor compensation rate. Motion by Eaton, second by Adams to increase the tutor compensation rate to $15.00 per hour as of this date. Vote: 5/Y, 1/N (Greenlaw).

6. Personnel

1. Junior High Yearbook

Robert Webster stated that Crystal Robbins who started the project has decided not to continue. However, Susan Guilford and Becky Hutchins will take over and share the duties. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Eaton to approve Susan Guilford and Becky Hutchins as Junior High Yearbook advisors. Vote: 6/Y, 0/N.

2. Junior High Girls B Team Basketball Coach

Robert Webster recommended April Gross. Webster indicated that he had analyzed the time sheets from the other coaches and found that the compensation rate is approximately $9.00. This rate would apply to anyone outside the school system and hourly employees in order to comply with the Department of Labor regulations. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Babbitt to approve April Gross as JH Girls B Team Basketball Coach. Vote: 6/Y, 0/N.

7. CSD Mission and Vision Statements

Linda Nelson reported on the Long Range Planning Committee’s work with the vision and mission statement. Nelson reviewed the statements and the goals of the committee. Discussion held on statements. Aimee Eaton commended the committee on the tremendous amount of work accomplished, but commented that she did not like the “yearning for learning” phrase that was used. Nelson explained how and why the phrase was incorporated into the statement. Motion by Eaton, second by Babbitt to approve the vision statement. Vote: 6/Y, 0/N. Motion by Babbitt, second by Adams to approve the mission statement. Vote: 4/Y, 2/N (Eaton, Cormier).

8. Draft #3 School/Community Survey

Discussion held on the survey and how to best distribute it. Linda Nelson commented that the student committee members thought that the survey should speak more to students. Robert Braun suggested the use of four different surveys for different groups. Skip Greenlaw explained his misgivings of using the survey at all. Nelson commented that the survey could be used for the public perceptions of the school. Joe Babbitt inquired how many responses the committee was hoping to receive. Nelson stated approximately 500. Motion by Babbitt, second by Eaton to accept the survey as written. Vote: 6/Y, 0/N.

8. DISCUSSION ITEMS

1. Long Range Planning Committee Implementation Plan

Linda Nelson reviewed the plan and the timeframe for completion. Robert Webster questioned if the timeframe was too aggressive. Nelson felt only the timeframe for the survey was too aggressive. Walter Kumiega commented that it is difficult to make a connection between the abstract ideas and the actual budget.

2. School Enrollment Projections

Robert Webster reviewed the enrollment figures and projections from 1990 to 2010. Discussion held on the economics of island living and factors effecting population growth. Linda Nelson explained how important the projection numbers are to the LRPC. Discussion held on employment opportunities and the role of education in the community.

3. Reading Report

Robert Webster reviewed the report and commented that he hopes the report is helpful in giving an understanding of how reading is happening in school. Aimee Eaton commented that she liked the report but suggested that the middle level lacks some consistency. Eaton suggested that a summer reading list may be used by the teachers to aid their programs. Discussion held on summer reading lists and how to keep reading fun and interesting.

Motion by Eaton, second by Greenlaw to extend meeting for 10 minutes. Vote: 6/Y, 0/N.

4. Superintendent’s Goals

Robert Webster reported on the 2004-2005 goals as follows:

• The 21^st Century Learning Grant was not completed due to lack of funds.
• Long Range Planning Committee is making progress toward its goals.
• Of the five budget goals, three have been accomplished – full funding for art; revolving renovation loan application has been completed, but no action taken.
• The DISES repairs are complete, but there has been expense to the district.
• All staff have achieved certification although several employees have transitional or conditional certification.
• There is continued curriculum and assessment development.

Webster commented that the school board should think about suggestions for goals for him for next year.

5. New or Revised Policies

1. School Facility Naming

No additional changes made to policy.

2. Chemical Hazards

No additional changes made to policy.

3. Family Care Leave

No additional changes made to policy. Webster commented that the chemical hazards and family care leave policy changes were as a result of recently passed State laws.

6. Formation of Student Council

Aimee Eaton commented that the formation of a student council would give the students ownership in the things the school expects of them. Penny Wendell stated that she has made the invitation to students in the past. Linda Nelson commented that student often won’t participate in groups set up for them by teachers.

9. COMMUNICATIONS

10. Adjournment

Motion by Greenlaw, second by Eaton to adjourn at 9:42 p.m. Vote: /Y, /N.

Respectfully submitted,

JoAnna Haskell

Administrative Assistant