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DEER ISLE-STONINGTON CSD
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
“Launching Lifelong Learners and Responsible Citizens Able to Keep Our Island Community Vital”
REGULAR MEETING
Deer Isle-Stonington High School
Tuesday, February 2, 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
Board Members Present: Walter Kumiega, Mark Cormier, Andrew Vaughn, Skip Greenlaw, Amanda Larrabee , Don Sargent (7:00 p.m.)
Staff: Robert Webster, Todd West, Michael Benjamin, Nelson Monteith, Elizabeth Small, Tom Duym, Tasha Conary-Brown, Judith Hotchkiss,
Student Representatives: Layla Eaton
Students: Christina Courtot, Brandon Heanssler
Guests: Colin Powell, Robert Courtot, Susan Steed, Nancy Greene, Suzanne Ruch, Ben Barrows, Joan Roy, Lois Kirstenbaum, Charlie Osborne
1. Call to Order and Declaration of a Quorum at 6:05 p.m.
2. Moment of Silence
3. Introductions
4. Citizen Comments
5. Approval of the Agenda
Skip Greenlaw asked to add Discussion Item G. Use of teachers during the day.
Motion by Greenlaw second by Larrabee to approve the agenda as amended. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N.
6. Approval of the minutes of the January 5, 2010 school committee meeting.
Changes made to name spellings: Ann Dunham, Chris Betts
Motion by Greenlaw, second by Larrabee to approve the minutes of the January 5, 2010 school committee meeting as amended. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N.
7. DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. Reach Director's Update
Nelson Monteith distributed a written summary of the events at the Reach. He finds himself rebuilding and restructuring the program due to having fewer kids at the elementary level with more activity opportunities. He is spending a lot of time working with teachers on integration projects. He also is working with Christel Kendzia supporting her growing music program. He has an active and supportive advisory board. They are raising money to pay the director's salary and operating expenses. He is getting students on the stage more through the integration rather than by recitals, etc. He is integrating the student seating situation and everyone is behaving better. He has many more projects for this year. If Monteith can find the funding, Paul Sullivan has agreed to create an original score for the students. The theater is being used for voice and technical workshops now. The Cabin Fever production of the Sound of Music has a wonderful cast with a lot of old friends returning. The Community is really using the theater. He is writing a show with the 6th grade CREST class. Upcoming bookings for the Reach include the Bagaduce Choral, a presentation from the Americans for Peace and Justice, the summer Arts Camp and a benefit performance sponsored by the Stonington Library.
The theater is getting older and maintenance issues such as carpeting are starting to come up. The piano has some issues and needs some work.
Skip Greenlaw commented that it is nice to have Monteith back and thanked him for all the nice things he is doing. Andy Vaughn questioned the amount high school students involved in paid positions at the summer Arts Camp. Discussion held on the student positions.
B. DISHS Web Design Class
Elizabeth Small report that the students designed the new school website during her computer graphics class. Christina Courtot explained the reasons for the new website. Brandon Heanssler explained how they moved the old information to the new site. The class also taught the teachers how to use and update their pages. They outlines the challenges they faced with the providers and their ultimate move from Simpleweb to Google Apps. Google Apps is free for schools. They reported that they are about half way done with the goals they set for themselves. They appreciated the class as it gave them an opportuntities for web design, problem solving and communication skills. Todd West pointed out that this is an example of students' expanding role in the school in line with the strategic plan.
C. Hancock County Technical Center Satellite Program
Todd West reported that the DOE is trying to standardize career and technical programs across the state. Mr. Duym's program is technically a satellite program of HCTC. They have been meeting with them to learn the new guidelines for career and technical programs. DISHS doesn't get any subsidy for the programs. Theroetically, HCTC is resposible for recruiting for us for the technical program. But, in order to recruit students from other schools, we would have to build our program around the marine trade program. Our students would have to apply to HCTC in order to take the marine trades classes. He doesn't see a lot of reasons to continue the relationship. Tom Duym noted that when the program started, they structures the program to meet the needs of DISHS students, not around what the criteria was from the state. HCTC went through an accreditation process and they found inconsistencies with the state requirements. Robert Webster noted that the affiliation with HCTC was re-established in the 1990's. However, since 2004-05 we have not received any funding because of LD1. He doesn't see any benefit to a relationship with HCTC and sees a disadvantage to our own students. Skip Greenlaw questioned if we needed to take something to the Legislature to solidify what we are doing. Discussion held on our relationship with HCTC. Consensus from the Board to end the relationship with HCTC.
D. Professional Learning Community Planning Update
Skip Greenlaw reported that they met with teachers two times. They made a couple of proposals for the teachers to discuss with their group. At this point, it looks like the Friday early release won't start this year.
E. Vision Statement Update
Walter Kumiega noted that we received community input when the vision statement was created. The community input was important with the accreditation review. He feels it is time to look at the vision statement again. Skip Greenlaw suggested letting the students review it first. We may get some great ideas about their own education. Andy Vaughn suggested we should look at the areas of no progress to determine if they are a priority. If there has not been any progress, then we need not continue working toward them. If they are a priority, we need to look at what we can do to help these alongs. Greenlaw noted that some things listed as no progress are due to budget constraints,but are still a priority.
F. Policy Review/Revision
- Electronic Devices Policy 3.22
Robert Webster outlined the changes to the policy. Discussion held on use of electronic devices during class time.
- Student Discipline Policy 3.04
- Physical Restraint Policy 3.04A
- Child Abuse and Neglect Policy 3.07
- Co-Curricular Hiring Process Policy 5.06A
Policies are ready for action at the next meeting.
G. Use of teachers time
Skip Greenlaw reported that he participated on the special education teacher interview committee. He expressed concern about teachers spending time out of the classroom to do interviews or negotiations for collective bargaining during the day. Greenlaw feels it is inappropriate. The genearl board consensus favored scheduling interviews during non-school time.
EXECUTIVE SESSION on a personnel matter pursuant to 1 M.R.S.A. § 405(6)(A)
Motion by Greenlaw, second by Larrabee to enter executive session on a personnel matter pursuant to 1 M.R.S.A. § 405(6)(A) at 7:31p.m. Vote: 6/Y, 0/N. Particpating: Skip Greenlaw, Amanda Larrabee, Walter Kumiega, Mark Cormier Andy Vaughn, Don Sargent, Robert Webster, Michael Benjamin. Returned to regular session at 7:49 p.m.
9. ACTION ITEMS
A. Special Education Teacher Nomination
Robert Webster nominated Betsy Stevens for the special education teaching position. She is currently working at Kids Peace in Ellsworth. Webster reviewed her qualifications which includes course work in special education at UMF.
Motion by Greenlaw, second by Kumiega to approve the Superintendent's recommendation and employ Betsy Stevens as the special education teacher. Vote: 5/Y, 0/N, 1/Abstain (Larrabee)
B. DISHS Accreditation Final Report
Motion by Vaughn, second by Cormier to accept the DISHS Accreditation Final Report. Vote: 6/Y, 0/N.
10. REPORTS
A. Board Committees
Robert Webster reported that the maintenance committee met and is dealing with multiple problems including sewage, maintaining the prime on the main water pump and the kitchen heaters. David Pelletier recommended we have an electrical inspector take a look at the work completed during the renovation. Webster received the report this morning. There are a lot of violations. He has forwarded the report to Sewall Engineering to have the general contractor David Trask to rectify the work.
B. Student Representatives
Layla Eaton reported the weighted grade task force meeting will be rescheduled.
C. Elementary School Principal
Mike Benjamin distributed a written report. On January 7th, he met with the Stonington economic development committee as a means to strengthen the dialog between the school community and businesses. The employers talked about what their needs are. Their needs closely match the goals of the strategic plans. They experessed their desire to help the school meet those goals. They agreed to meet again in the spring. The Elementary School Crest class applied for a grant from the Island Education Foundation for $400 for 100 copies of the alaphbet book they have put together. The IEF thought it was such a wonderful idea, they going reproduce the book in color with a hard cover give to each student and then sell the rest of the books to help defray the costs. Kids produced the alphabet book which uses pictures from around the Island to explain the different letters. Dr. Candace Bray is continuing her consulting on literacy. She is conferencing with the teachers for literacy and individual student needs. Cabin Fever theater is holding rehearsals. Anne Douglass is continuing to work on the DISES website. NECAP scores just became public today. He will be reviewing the scores over the next couple of weeks. The AYP report won't be reported until this spring.
Vaughn questioned the item from the strategic plan which would have the high and elementary schools turn into magnet schools. Discussion held on marketing the schools for tuition students. He also asked about the progress toward offering language classes for K-8 students. Benjamin indicated that he has started the discussion with the DISES leadership team. He has had one parent interested in being part of the discussion. Donald Sargent would like to see some movement forward on this issue. Todd West mentioned that they are looking into technology as a way to offer different languages.
D. High School Principal
Todd West gave a written report and noted that they hired half time English last spring who instead of teaching the planned elective presentation course this semester, will be team teaching the very large freshman Contemporary Issues with Mr. Wood. On Thursday evening he and Seth Laplant attended a meeting for the Great Schools Partnership in Augusta regarding standards-based education. They brought in representatives from 10 high school from around the state that are pursuing this type of education. He found that we are not out there on our own and what we are doing is truly unique. Everyone else is doing this from curriculum perspective. We are looking at the other end of things. Twenty-five of forty-three seniors have completed their senior exhibitions. Only three seniors are of concern. The student assistance team is working well as only one 9th grade student failed one course; six 10th graders failed eight courses. He reviewed some proposed changes to the course of studies.
Skip Greenlaw commended West on his reports and how well they are presented. He would like to know what progress has been made in reading since Ms. Billing has been at the high school. Discussion held on the literacy committee.
E. Superintendent
Robert Webster reported a probable State subsidy cut of $243,000. The DOE is proposing changes to the Medicaid reimbursement program which will may reduce that revenue source. He received a resignation from Tim Robbins as junior high baseball coach. Mr. McGuffie has submitted his notice of intent to retire. Carolyn Heller has submitted her resignation. We need a representative for the CSD on a re-energized consolidation collaboration committee. Skip Greenlaw suggested waiting on this matter as the Education Committee has asked two lawyers to come up with one bill which may make consolidation a non-issue. Greenlaw further reported that Gordon Donaldson has compiled a report regarding the higher per student costs in many consolidated districts. He found that units that did not consolidate have lower costs and the exempt units have higher per pupil costs.
Webster noted that Leslie Billings is being trained to fill in for Carolyn but is not interested in the position. At next month's meeting we will discuss the school calendar and have election of officers. He reminded everyone that the meeting in March will be on Thursday, not on Tuesday.
Walter Kumiega noted that MSMA in their monthly newsletter reported that L.D. 1551 proposes that no school board member could use e-mail with a quorum of the board. However, it then goes on to say, if an e-mail is used to contact a quorum, the e-mail must be made public.
Todd West noted that the calendar should be planned for two years in advance. Discussion held on scheduling the school calendar two years in advance.
11. COMMUNICATIONS
12. EXECUTIVE SESSION on negotiation of administrator salary and benefits for 2010-11 pursuant to 1 M.R.S.A. § 405(6)(D)
Motion by Greenlaw , second by Sargent to enter Executive Session on negotiation of administrator salary and benefits for 2010-11 pursuant to 1 M.R.S.A. § 405(6)(D) at 8:57 p.m. Participating: Skip Greenlaw, Amanda Larrabee, Walter Kumiega, Mark Cormier, Andy Vaughn, Don Sargent, Robert Webster. Returned to regular session at 9:05 p.m.
13. ADJOURNMENT
Motion by , second by to adjourn at 9:15 p.m. Vote: 6/Y, 0/N.
Respectfully submitted,
JoAnna Haskell
Administrative Assistant
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