DEER ISLE – STONINGTON CSD SCHOOL COMMITTEE
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
May 2, 2006
“Launching lifelong learners and responsible citizens
able to keep our island vital.”
Board Members Present: Aimee Eaton, Walter Kumiega, Joe Babbitt and Mark Cormier
Board Members Absent: Skip Greenlaw and Jim Adams
Staff Present: Rosalie Keen, Judy Rhodes, Rhonda Eaton, Priscilla Heslin, Paula Eaton, Mark Woida, Sally Foley, Linda McCauley, Melissa Madigan, Jane O’Connor, Penny Wendell, Catherine Ring and Robert Webster
Citizens and Guests Present: David Walsh, Chris Chapman, Doug Boutilier, Brenda Haskell, Tammy Gokey, Sherm Hutchins, and Erik Robbins.
1. Call to Order/Quorum
Chairman Kumiega opened the meeting and declared a quorum at 6:35 p.m.
2. Moment of Silence
A moment of silence was observed.
3. Citizen’s Comments
Hutchins asked if the school committee would be acting on relocation of the pamphlets opposed to military recruitment. Kumiega thought that there was no action planned or proposed by the school committee in response to the discussion of the previous regular meeting. Chapman reported a conversation with a principal at York High School on the same military recruitment issue. Babbitt explained that the administration would be responsible for making any changes in the career information display. If dissatisfaction remained after discussion with administrators, the school committee could be asked to take action. Chapman asked if a Peace Studies course at the high school was planned. Eaton responded that nothing official had been initiated.
4. Approval of the Agenda
Motion by Eaton, second by Babbitt, to approve the agenda with the addition of an executive session for review of probationary teacher evaluations and a request for a school committee contribution to the Odyssey of the Mind trip to the world championship. The action item on the foreign language teacher’s contract was deleted. Vote: 4 Yes; 0 No.
5. Approval of the Minutes
Motion by Babbitt to approve the minutes of April 4, 12 and 26, 2006. Eaton seconded the motion for the minutes of April 4 and 12. Cormier seconded the motion for approval of the minutes of April 26. Vote: 4 Yes; 0 No.
6. REPORTS
A. Elementary Principal
Principal Ring highlighted several items from her written report:
· Kindergarten registration of 24 to 26 students
· Teacher Appreciation Week events
· May 3rd School Recital
· Maine Principals Association Conference workshops on April 27th and 28th
· Academic Honors Banquet May 4th
· Volunteer Appreciation School Assembly May 11th
· Her visit with Linda McCauley to the Bucksport lunch program May 11th
· Variety of other school events in May
· Formation of interview committees for the music, RPAC director, and grade four positions
B. High School Principal
Principal Wendell reported on:
· Local driver education program development
· Step up day for students and parents
· Mary Banfield’s continuing development of the service learning program
· Local Community Business Forum for students organized by April Coombs
· Smooth administration of the SAT’s to all but one eleventh grader (95%)
· New England Assoc. of Schools and Colleges training for the high school teacher leadership committee on accreditation
· Success of the chess and math teams
· Noted the superintendent’s presence at the high school this year and his chaperoning of the chess team to Milwaukee
C. Superintendent
Webster noted the following items:
· Distribution of the latest bus driver list from First Student which now includes all drivers from the immediate vicinity
· Attorney Barry Mills’ report that D.L. Poulin has agreed to repay the school district for the cost of Sweet Construction Company’s initial repairs to Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School in 2004
· Need for a special meeting on May 10th for several personnel matters and discussion of spelling instruction
· Scheduling the June Union 76 meeting for 6/14/06
· April school district financial statement showed potential over expenditures in the gifted/talented and building maintenance accounts
· Distribution of draft copies of bus fuel bid specifications which will be issued in late May for all schools in Union 76
· Distribution of copies of revised Reach Performing Arts Center Advisory Group Bylaws which Jim Adams will review at the May 10th special meeting
· Adjustment of the schools umbrella insurance coverage for the Emily Muir art donation is in progress
7. DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. Summer Reading Program Planning
Ring provided the board members with a short memo on plans for the summer reading program. This memo listed a series of questions that the language arts committee meeting on May 4th will address. Wendell reported that a faculty committee is forming at the high school and will make recommendations for summer reading plans at the June meeting. Eaton and Kumiega noted that a summer reading program should be a priority.
B. New or Revised Policies
1. Student Records Policy 3.02 – There were no changes to the second draft of policy 3.02, which will be an action item at the June meeting.
2. Reach Performing Arts Center Director Job Description Policy 9.18 – Two typos were corrected. The policy will be an action item in June.
8. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion by Eaton, second by Babbitt, to enter executive session at 7:22 p.m. for review of probationary teacher evaluations pursuant to 1 M.R.S.A. § 405(6)(A)(E).Vote: Yes 4; No 0. Participants included Babbitt, Eaton, Cormier, Kumiega, Ring, O’Connor and Webster. Woida, Madigan, and Heslin each attended for the portion of the executive session pertaining to his/her evaluation review. The school committee returned to regular session at 7:54 p.m.
9. ACTION ITEMS
A. Odyssey of the Mind Funding Request
Webster distributed a memo from Gretchen Jost requesting school committee financial support for the OM teams’ trip to Iowa for the world championships. Babbitt suggested establishing coaching stipends this year which might be donated to the cause. Webster noted that had been done in the past with a soccer coach stipend. Motion by Eaton, second by Cormier, to pay stipends for the OM coaches of $650 each for 2005-06. Vote: 4 Yes; 0 No.
B. 2006-07 Support Staff Employment Agreements
Webster recommended approval of employment agreements for the following support staff employees for 2006-07 at the rates of pay noted for each individual.
Administrative Assistants Hours Rate Per Hour
Kathie Rossignol 8 $14.80
Tiffany Dauk 8 $11.55
Rhonda Eaton 8 $12.80
Bookkeeper
Jeannine Buckminster 4.8 $14.80
Guidance Secretary
Susan Siebert 5 $13.55
Custodians:
Ricky Eaton 8 $14.55
Gerauld Hutchinson 8 $15.10
Randall Mitchell 8 $15.10
Sean Phelan 8 $10.80
Dianne Atherton 8 $15.10
Rosalie Keen 8 $15.10
Head Cooks:
Kate Hunt 6 $15.10
Linda McCauley 8 $15.10
Assistant Cooks
Heather Hallock 2 $13.80
Educational Technicians
Amy Billings ES 7 $11.05
Christine DeGozzaldi ES 7 $14.30
Maria Duddy ES 7 $10.80
Sally Dunham ES 7 $14.55
Henry Davis HS 7 $12.80
Janet Rice ES 7 $12.05
Melissa Raftery HS 7 $10.30
Anne Hardie HS 7 $10.30
Dawn Nault ES 7 $12.05
Cari Quitereo ES 7 $11.30
Kathi Ryan HS 7 $14.30
Josephine Sullivan ES 7 $12.80
Kathy Turner ES 7 $14.05
Jessica Gillen 7 $10.30
Motion by Eaton, second by Babbitt, to approve the superintendent’s recommendations for 2006-07 support staff employment agreements. Vote: 4 yes; 0 no.
C. Continuing Teacher Contract
Webster nominated Mark Woida for a continuing teacher contract for 2006-07. Motion by Eaton, second by Babbitt, to approve a continuing teacher contract for Mark Woida for the 2006-07 school year. Vote: 4 yes; 0 no.
D. Probationary Teacher Contracts
Webster nominated Melissa Madigan and Priscilla Heslin for second year probationary contracts for the 2006-07 school year. Motion by Eaton, second by Babbitt, to approve a probationary teacher contract for Melissa Madigan for the 2006-07 school year. Vote: 4 yes; 0 no.
Motion by Eaton, second by Babbitt, to approve a probationary contract for Priscilla Heslin as a clinical counselor for the 2006-07 school year. Vote: 4 yes; 0 no.
E. Acceptance of Donations
Motion by Eaton, second by Babbitt, to accept a $2,000 donation from the Maine Community Foundation for the OM trip to Iowa and a donation of hardware and fasteners of a value in excess of $500 from Barter Lumber Company. Vote: 4 yes; 0 no.
F. New or Revised Policies
1. Graduation Requirements Policy 4.12 – Webster reviewed the changes from the previous meeting.
2. School Nutrition Programs Policy 6.02 – Paula Eaton asked for reassurance that the new policy would allow the sports booster clubs to continue raising funds for the school sports programs through the sale of candy, soft drinks and other non-nutritional foods. Kumiega explained that the policy allowed for those sales of non-nutritional items as long as some healthy alternative was also provided. Eaton asked if nutritional foods would be provided for the booster clubs. Babbitt suggested that implementation of the policy be discussed with the administration. Motion by Cormier, second by Babbitt, to approve a Policy 4.12 and Policy 6.02 as presented. Vote: 4 yes; 0 no.
G. 2006-2007 Staffing Reductions
As a part of overall budget reductions Webster recommended the elimination of four positions: middle school life skills, high school life skills, grade 3/5, and part time assistant cook at DISES. Tammy Powers and DIS support staff association president Rhonda Eaton raised questions about the elimination of the assistant cook position. Board members and the superintendent provided answers to some of the questions. Some of the decisions on position hours and responsibilities will be made over the next couple of months.
1. Middle School Life Skills Position - Motion by Cormier, second by Babbitt, to approve the superintendent’s recommendation to cut the middle school life skills position. Vote: 4 yes; 0 no.
2. High School Life Skills Position - Motion by Babbitt, second by Cormier, to approve the superintendent’s recommendation to cut the high school life skills position. Vote: 3 yes; 1 no (Eaton).
3. Grade Three/Five Position - Motion by Babbitt, second by Eaton, to approve the superintendent’s recommendation to cut the grade three/five teaching position. Vote: 4 yes; 0 no.
4. Part-Time Assistant Cook Position - Motion by Babbitt, second by Eaton, to approve the superintendent’s recommendation to cut the part-time assistant cook position. Vote: 4 yes; 0 no.
10. 2006-07 School Budget
Webster noted that two new items would be voted upon this year: the high school revolving renovation referendum and whether or not to continue using the school budget validation referendum process. Kumiega pointed out that the school committee also needed to approve the proposed adult education budget for 2006-07.
1. 2006-07 School Budget Draft #3 - Motion by Eaton, second by Cormier, to adopt draft #3 for the 2006-07 school budget in the amount of $6,072,071. Vote: 4 yes; 0 no.
2. Motion by Eaton, second by Cormier, to add the proposed 2006-07 Adult Education Budget to the agenda as an action item. Vote: 4 yes; 0 no.
3. 2006-07 Adult Education Budget - Motion by Cormier, second by Babbitt to approve the 2006-07 Adult Education budget in the amount of $36,977 with a local share of $12,477. Vote: 4 yes; 0 no.
4. 2006-07 Annual School District Budget Meeting Warrant - Motion by Babbitt, second by Eaton, to adopt the annual school district budget meeting warrant as presented. Vote: 4 yes; 0 no.
5. 2006-07 School Budget Validation Referendum Warrant - Motion by Cormier, second by Babbitt, to approve the school budget validation referendum warrant. Vote: 4 yes; 0 no.
6. Adjournment
Motion by Cormier, second by Babbitt,, to adjourn the meeting at 8:40 p.m. Vote: 4 yes; 0 no.
Respectfully Submitted,
___________________________________
Superintendent of Schools