DEER ISLE – STONINGTON CSD SCHOOL COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
October 4, 2005
Board Members Present: Jim Adams, Aimee Eaton, Walter Kumiega, Joe Babbitt,
Mark Cormier and Skip Greenlaw at 6:36 p.m.
Staff Present: Penny Wendell, Catherine Ring, Jane O'Connor, Lisa Theoharedis and Robert Webster
Citizens and Guests Present: Rich Hilsinger, Melissa Madigan, Heidi Nolan, Kim Cobb, Elwood
Cobb, Robert Braun, Isaac Kestenbaum, Sherm Hutchins, Doreen Sams, and David Brabender
1. Call to Order/Quorum
Chairman Kumiega opened the meeting and declared a quorum at 6:34 p.m.
2. Moment of Silence
A moment of silence was observed.
3. Citizen's Comments
No citizens offered comments.
4. Approval of the Agenda
Motion by Eaton, second by Adams, to approve the agenda with the deletion of items 7B. MEA Reports and 9E. Mission Statement, and addition of agenda items 7E Elementary School Athletic Director and 9E. Kindergarten Ed. Tech. Request. Vote: 6 Yes; 0 No.
5. Approval of the Minutes
Motion by Babbitt, second by Eaton, to approve the minutes of September 6, 2005 as amended with corrections to the Superintendent's and Maintenance Committee Reports. Vote: 6 Yes; 0 No.
6. REPORTS
A. Elementary Principal's Report Catherine Ring introduced Melissa Madigan, the nominee for the K-8 technology/computer teacher/integrator. There was a good turnout of parents for the open houses. The Partners In Education group is being revitalized. At the Friday, October 7th in-service workshop teachers will be focusing on implementation of the new teacher evaluation protocols, student assessments, and the language art curriculum implementation. Many classes are doing fund raisers for hurricane relief. Progress reports are going out this week.
B. High School Principal Penny Wendell reported that 10th and some 11th grade students (about 60 students) will be taking the PSATs as part of the state program to fund the test taking. She commended Dennis Saindon for starting an applied technology club with students as an after-school activity. Three new students have enrolled since school started bringing the total enrollment up to 187. The high school teachers workshop on Friday will be devoted to finalizing the form of senior graduation portfolios. She commended Susan and Jack Scott and Terry and Sandy Eaton for their donations of time and materials to the Life Skills Culinary Arts Program. Seniors will be putting up the remaining two sections of the divider fences in the parking lot on Friday in exchange for getting their senior privileges before the beginning of the second quarter. Tom Duym hosted 60 visitors from Ellsworth and Bangor churches who came last month to see the Marine Technology program. Tom's presentation to the Ellsworth Lions Club last spring sparked interest in this visit. High school progress reports are going out this week.
C. Superintendent Robert Webster distributed copies of the remaining PEP Grant expenditures submitted by school health coordinator Heather Barton Lindloff and copies of the Union 76 School Assessment Visitation Committee membership. The maintenance committee has a long agenda for its meeting on October 6th. Webster consulted with attorney Barry Mills from Hale & Hamlin on proceeding with arbitration to recover $15,000 from D.L. Poulin. Registration for the MSMA Fall Conference for school board members must be completed by October 5th. The School Union 76 fall meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 3 at 6:30 p.m. in Sedgwick. The superintendent asked school committee members to contact the Supt.'s Evaluation Committee representative Aimee Eaton with any suggestions for changes to the evaluation survey. A Healthy Island Project breakfast has been scheduled for October 11th at 7:30 a.m. Copies of the monthly financial statement were also provided. Webster reported that Assistant Principal Jane O'Conner had request she be relieved of the elementary athletic director duties.
7. DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. Student Transportation Issues
The superintendent, school committee members, parents and community members described the unsatisfactory bus service provided by First Student, Inc. since April of 2005. These problems included late buses, bus runs that could not be made due to a breakdown or lack of a bus driver, the chronic shortage of bus drivers, the disruption of the school day caused by a sports trip leaving early so that bus drivers could return to do regular bus runs after school, a school employee leaving her responsibilities as school secretary in order to drive a bus when the company could not supply a driver, parents and coaches having to transport the soccer team when the company could not supply a driver, parents' and school staffers' frustration and loss of confidence in the bus service, poor communication of problems, lack of any emergency contact person at First Student at Deer Isle, Hampden and Alton bus offices during bus runs, failure to provide confirmation of special trip requests, use of an older bus that is not in compliance with the contract, traffic safety issues resulting in near-miss incidents, hassles endured by school officials and school committee members dealing with parental complaints, bus drivers coming from long distances who are unfamiliar with the routes, young students stressed out because they never know who the bus driver will be, excessive turnover of bus drivers, and lack of local bus drivers who know the students and the routes. First Student Regional Vice President David Brabender apologized for the poor service and indicated that he was authorized to increase the guaranteed hours for bus drivers from 20 to 30. He hoped that this would bring some former drivers back to work. Mark Cormier told the bus company representatives that First Student's unsatisfactory service had given the school district cause to terminate the school's contract with the bus company. If First Student is unable to reliably, consistently and safely fulfill the terms of the contract, the school committee will terminate the contract. Joe Babbitt asked for a plan to improve the service. Brabender promised to provide that improvement plan by Tuesday, October 11, 2005.
B. MEA Results Board members received the wrong information in the agenda mailing. This item was removed from the agenda.
C. New or Revised Policies
D. Superintendent's 2005-06 Goals
E. Elementary Athletic Director
Jane O'Connor explained that the athletic director's responsibilities interfered with her effectiveness as assistant principal. The consensus of the school committee was to advertise the elementary athletic director position to determine if anyone is interested in applying. Webster will revise O'Connor's contract accordingly. O'Connor will continue as athletic director until a replacement is found. Babbitt asked that the job description be reviewed to see if any duties can be delegated to others.
The school committee agreed to take up Action Item 9E. request for creation of a kindergarten ed. tech. position. School nurse Lisa Theoharedis explained the medical needs of two diabetic students who require constant monitoring and periodic blood sugar testing during the school day. The loss of instructional time due to extensive time required out of the classroom and the need to ensure the health and safety of the students were serious concerns. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Eaton, to authorize the employment of a 2:1 ed. tech. for two kindergarten students. Vote: 6 Yes; 0 No.
8. EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion by Greenlaw, second by Babbitt, to enter executive session at 8:42 p.m. for negotiation of student transportation contract adjustments with First Student Inc. pursuant to 1 M.R.S.A. ¤ 405(6)A and 1 M.R.S.A. ¤ 402(3)D. Participants were Greenlaw, Babbitt, Kumiega, Eaton, Cormier, Adams, David Brabender and Webster. The school committee returned to regular session at 9:20 p.m.
9. ACTION ITEMS
A. Bus Contract Adjustment
There was no motion on this agenda item.
B. Personnel Nominations
1. Part-time Computer Technology Teacher/Integrator – Webster nominated Melissa Madigan for a 2005-06 probationary contract at .8 with a salary of $33,658. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Babbitt, to approve the superintendent's nomination of Melissa Madigan. Vote: 6 Yes; 0 No.
2. Part-time Assistant Cook - Webster nominated Heather Hallock for a 2005-06 probationary contract at $13.50 per hour. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Babbitt, to approve the superintendent's nomination of Heather Hallock. Vote: 6 Yes; 0 No.
3. Middle Level Cheerleading Coaches - Webster recommended employment of Kim Siebert and Miranda Billings as cheering coaches at a rate of compensation that will not exceed the total amount for this activity specified in the Negotiated Agreement. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Eaton, to approve the employment of Miranda Billings and Kim Siebert. Vote: 6 Yes; 0 No.
C. Deer Isle-Stonington High School Program of Studies
Adams asked questions about foreign language programs and the ninth grade study skills class. Wendell responded that the Learning Results mandate for foreign language needed attention at the elementary level before additional high school offerings should be considered. The study skills class is evolving and may included an opt out provision in the future once the program is fully developed. Cormier praised this year's study skills program content. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Eaton, to approve the 2005-06 High School Program of Studies. Vote: 6 Yes; 0 No.
D. Acceptance of Donations
Webster reported on donations made to the school district: $500 from Exxon/Mobil; $1,800 from Junior High Sports Booster's Golf Tournament; $1,000 facilitation services from Linda Nelson; and $14,297 from an anonymous donor to fund 25% of the auditorium director's salary. Greenlaw and Eaton objected to school committee recognition of donations of services, which would set a precedent for future service donations. Adams and Kumiega supported school committee recognition of Nelson's contribution to the leadership of the Long Range Planning Committee. Eaton withdrew her objections. Kumiega suggested two motions.
Motion by Greenlaw, second by Babbitt, to accept the donations from Exxon/Mobil, the sports boosters and the anonymous donor. Vote: 6 Yes; 0 No.
Motion by Adams, second by Babbitt, to accept the donation of services valued at $1,000 for Linda Nelson's facilitator services with the Long Range Planning Committee. Vote: 4 Yes; 2 No. (Cormier, Greenlaw)
E. Kindergarten Ed. Tech.
This agenda item was taken up earlier in the meeting.
F. 2005-06 No Child Left Behind Budget
Motion by Babbitt, second by Adams, to approve the 2005-06 NCLB Budget as presented. Vote: 6 Yes; 0 No.
G. 2005-06 School District Committee Appointments
Greenlaw asked about the status of the school assessment visitation committee. Webster replied that this was not included in the list because it was a school union committee, not solely a CSD committee like all of the other committees listed. Greenlaw reminded the superintendent that he had volunteered to be on the assessment committee. Webster suggested that the school committee could approve the CSD members of the assessment committee. Motion by Eaton, second by Greenlaw, to approve the list of committee assignments with the addition of the CSD members of the school union assessment committee. Vote: 6 Yes; 0 No.
Certification Support Team Mentors
Maintenance
DISES Leadership Team |
Transportation Committee
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10. COMMUNICATIONS
There were no communications.
11. Adjournment
Motion by Babbitt, second by Greenlaw, to adjourn the meeting at 9:55 p.m. Vote: 6 yes; 0 no.
Respectfully Submitted,
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Superintendent of Schools