Superintendent Shuttleworth called the meeting to order 6:03 PM and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Transcription

1 MINUTES OF THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT 1 MEETING HELD JANUARY 25, 2010 AT 6:00 PM AT PHIPPSBURG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. (NOTE: These minutes are not official until approved by the Board. Such action, either to approve or amend and approve, is anticipated at the February 22, 2010 meeting). Members Present: Others Present: Charles Durfee, Chairperson; Julie Rice, Vice Chairperson; David Barber, Timothy Harkins, Chet Garrison, Frances Tolan, Betsy Varian; Kean McDermott, Zack Shaw, Student Representatives; William C. Shuttleworth, Superintendent of Schools Emily Thompson, Tom Soule, Seth Koenig, Kari Babcock, Andy Mishkin, Abby Lockhart, Merry Chapin, Kimberly Gates, Clare Berkowitz, Suzi Ater, Heidi Tucker and members of the RSU 1 teaching staff CALLED TO ORDER Superintendent Shuttleworth called the meeting to order 6:03 PM and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Superintendent Shuttleworth administered the oath of office to the newly elected Board members Julie Rice and Chet Garrison. ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR Superintendent Shuttleworth opened the discussion with a request for a nomination to elect the Board Chairperson. MOTION: Garrison SECOND: Tolan TO: Nominate Charles Durfee as Board Chairperson. MOTION: Garrison SECOND: Rice VOTE: Board (7-0) TO: Cease nominations for Board Chairperson. MOTION: To nominate Charles Durfee as Board Chairperson was approved unanimously. Chairperson Durfee opened the floor for nominations for the Vice Chairperson. MOTION: Barber SECOND: Harkins TO: Nominate Julie Rice as Vice Chairperson. MOTION: Garrison SECOND: Barber VOTE: Board (7-0) TO: Cease nominations for Vice Chairperson. 1

2 MOTION: To nominate Julie Rice as Vice Chairperson was approved unanimously. HAITI RELIEF FUN RUN Student Representative McDermott announced that a Haiti Relief Fun Run will take place on Saturday January 30 th at 9:00 AM. Participants will meet on Front Street outside of Café Crème for the 5K run or walk. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA Chairperson Durfee added the following items to the agenda: Item 16.1 Executive Session to discuss the Superintendent s contract Item Discuss and take action on a proposed change in the current Bath teachers contract Item First Reading of Policy DJH Superintendent Shuttleworth made the following adjustments to the agenda: Deleted Item 14.5 the field trip was changed to a day trip not overnight Item 14.1 Retirements of Joyce Wilson and Mary Read Item 14.1 Schedule B nominations - include Gary Olsen, MHS Varsity Baseball Coach PUBLIC SESSION MHS Guidance Counselor Leslie Trundy introduced MHS students and representatives from the Morse Interact Club Christabel Frye and Alyssa Baxter to the Board. The Interact Club is required to hold one local and one international community service project each year. The following invitation was given to the Board members: The Morse Interact Club Cordially invites you to attend the Oscar Party in the Montgomery Theater, Morse High School on Sunday, March 7 th. Red Carpet arrivals will begin at 7:00 PM, admission is free, donations are accepted and all proceeds will benefit OXFAM RIVERVIEW FOUNDATION PRESENTATION Riverview Foundation Program Manager Andy Mishkin shared the history of the foundation and described the services the foundation provides to RSU 1 students. The programs are funded by grants and tobacco settlement money. RSU 1 is responsible for paying for the busing and snacks. Mr. Mishkin is working with Assistant Principal Ross Berkowitz to develop a program for our high school students. The program will be located at the teen center and will serve 25 Morse students. The students will have the opportunity to work out for an hour and work on team building activities. Abby Lockhart announced that the Riverview Foundation came in 4 th place in the Clorox Power a Bright Future Grant Competition. There were nearly 5,000 contestants. Public votes were cast through Facebook. The foundation will receive a $10,000 grant and will be featured in an upcoming issue of People magazine. Mr. Mishkin stated that the program is designed for kids who don t fit into sports but would like to be involved in something. Riverview Foundation is currently serving students with plans to expand the program to serve students in grades

3 APPROVE/AMEND MINUTES OF DECEMBER 22, 2009 TO: Approve the minutes of the December 22, 2009 RSU 1 Board meeting as presented. MOTION: Rice SECOND: Barber VOTE: Board (7-0) WOOLWICH BUILDING COMMITTEE REPORT Superintendent Shuttleworth reported that the first floor of Huse School is currently being renovated and Central Office will move to the Small School in April. Huse School will be ready for students and staff by the end of May. Woolwich students and staff will visit Huse on the last day of school this year. The construction project is on target. The building committee continues to meet on a monthly basis. The staff has been involved every step of the way. Blueprints are available at the superintendent s office. Bids for a general contractor will go out in April. Merry Chapin expressed her disappointed that the Board voted against having a LEED certified school. Ms. Chapin would like to see that item put back in the budget and suggested that the district look into fundraising in order to raise the money for the certification. She also felt that this would be a great opportunity for our JMG or vocational students to work on the project and get some hands-on experience as part of an apprentice program. Chairperson Durfee responded that the Board felt that this is not the right time to incur the additional $60,000 expense to obtain LEED certification. Mr. Durfee assured Ms. Chapin that we will make sure that the project is done in an environmentally responsible way. Superintendent Shuttleworth stated that vocational instructor Cindy Cygan has already worked with her students to produce a 3D model of our school. As part of our Expeditionary Learning at BMS, our students put together an energy presentation and there are plans to have WCS students also participate in the project as part of the EL experience. COALITION FORMATION FOR SCHOOL FUNDING During last month s Board meeting which included our state representatives, Board member Garrison made a recommendation that we establish some sort of coalition to take a look at the funding situation. Mr. Garrison provided the Board with a list of people he has invited to participate. The first meeting will be held on February 4 th at 6:00 PM in the Huse School. Mr. Garrison asked the student representatives to submit names of students who may want to participate in this process. It was also suggested to invite SAG members and teacher representatives. Some goals of the coalition would include looking at our priorities and keeping the citizens and legislatives informed. Anyone interested in joining the coalition is asked to Mr. Garrison at cgarrison@myfairpoint.net. SUPERINTENDENT S REPORT Superintendent Shuttleworth reported on the following: 3

4 1. RSU 1 will host Space Day on May 7 th. The program is put on by NASA and Lockhead Martin. The whole community will participate along with students from all of our schools. 2. To date 1100 new computers have been deployed in the district. 3. The district s Title I NCLB federal audit will take place tomorrow. Mr. Shuttleworth recognized West Bath Principal Emily Thompson for her tremendous experience, leadership and hard work. 4. Next week 12 City of Bath employees along with City Manager Bill Giroux will begin working with Morse High School students on a mentoring basis. This partnership is geared to helping at risk students at the high school. 5. Mr. Shuttleworth announced that our Morse High girl s basketball team will be going to the playoffs and encouraged everyone to attend our next home game to cheer them on. 6. The NECAP (New England Common Assessments Program) testing results will be available soon. 7. The RSU 1 Education Foundation, under the direction of Superintendent Shuttleworth and Suzanne Weiss, has been meeting with businesses to ask them to participate in high level funding and support for this foundation. Mr. Shuttleworth will provide the Board with a full report next month. 8. Superintendent Shuttleworth will be meeting with each administrator as part of the first framework of our school budget during the first few weeks of February. The first draft of the budget will be available to the Board during the first of March. 9. Morse High School Principal Kahl provided the Board with a Project 95 report that was included in their packet. 10. Superintendent Shuttleworth has met with every town selectmen and Bath City Manager Bill Giroux over the last two weeks to discuss the budget situation. 11. Superintendent Shuttleworth updated the Board on the status of the swim program. The goal is the every child leaving 4 th grade would be a reasonable competent swimmer. Once we have the money to support the program, we will bring a committee together to work out the details and will bring the proposal to the Board once completed. 12. In response to the auditor s report, Mr. Shuttleworth met with Ruth Moore and Debra Clark to discuss the significant deficiency in the segregation of duties in the business office. It was decided to include Mr. Shuttleworth as the third person to sign off during the review of the monthly financial transactions. Principal Emily Thompson reviewed the Title I files as a result of the auditor s findings and the free/reduced lunch application process has been amended to double check that the paperwork is complete. PERSONNEL ITEMS MOTION: Rice SECOND: Tolan VOTE: Board (7-0) TO: Accept the following retirements: Joyce Wilson, Administrative Assistant, MHS Mary Read, Art teacher, DN SCHEDULE B NOMINATIONS MOTION: Durfee SECOND: Rice VOTE: Board (7-0) 4

5 TO: Approve the following Schedule B nominations as recommended: Chris Marco, Asst. Boys Basketball coach, MHS Chuck Reese, Asst. Boys Basketball coach, MHS Gary Olson, Varsity Baseball coach, MHS REQUEST FOR LEAVE OF ABSENCE MOTION: Garrison SECOND: Harkins VOTE: Board (7-0) TO: Approve the request for an unpaid leave of absence from Mary Moran for the school year. FIELD TRIP REQUESTS MOTION: Durfee SECOND: Rice VOTE: Board (7-0) TO: Approve the out-of-state field trip request from the BMS Jazz Band to attend the Musical Carousel Festival in Andover, MA in June MOTION: Tolan SECOND: Barber VOTE: Board (7-0) TO: Approve the overnight field trip request from MHS for 3 students to attend the All State Music Festival in Orono in May COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT FOR THE BRCTC ADVISORY COMMITTEE The Board asked for clarification of two items before taking action on this document. 1. Under Article V, Item A Definition of Governance Board and its membership 2. Under Article VIII, Item G Clarification of what Board this item is referring to. This item was tabled until next meeting in order for Superintendent Shuttleworth to consult with Vocational Director Joel Austin. FIRST READING OF POLICY JICK BULLYING Chairperson Durfee recognized the members of the Policy Committee for their work and time in updating the Board policies. Vice Chairperson Rice introduced the Bullying policy and highlighted areas that are addressed in the policy. Board member Harkins asked for copies of our administrator s policies on how they handle bullying in their building. The following changes were made to the policy: Under Application of Policy, Item B delete through cyberspace and add electronically 5

6 Under Application of Policy, Item I revise to read (i.e. cellphones, laptops, Facebook, MySpace) Under Reporting, second paragraph revise to read Any student who is determined to have deliberately falsely accused FIRST READING OF POLICY JHB TRUANCY All proposed changes to the Truancy policy were made in red for the Board s review. FIRST READING OF POLICY IJJ AND IJJ-E INSTRUCTIONAL AND LIBRARY-MEDIA MATERIALS SELECTION Superintendent Shuttleworth reported that the Policy Committee met with the librarians to review the policy that also addresses complaints and challenged materials. FIRST READING OF POLICY JBA PUBILC PRESCHOOL TOILETING POLICY Superintendent Shuttleworth reported that RSU 1 is now serving approximately 60 pre-k children now. The policy will be revised to replace SAU with RSU 1. FIRST READING OF POLICY EEAA STUDENT TRANSPORTATION POLICY Board member Tolan reported that Bath had a transportation policy but Union 47 did not so the Policy Committee with the help of Karen Hawkes incorporated the outlying schools into this policy. The input from the Bath Bus Service was invaluable as they see things that the parents, RSU 1 staff and Board of Directors do not see when developing their bus routes. The rules and sequence of consequences will be provided to the Board at the next meeting as part of this policy. FIRST READING OF POLICY GBEF AND GBEF-R CELLULAR TELEPHONES/DISTRICT ISSUED COMMUNICATION DEVICES Superintendent Shuttleworth reported that this policy contains template language for any district that receives e-rate monies. AMENDMENT TO THE BATH TEACHERS CONTRACT Superintendent Shuttleworth reported that he recently met with Teacher s Union President Rick Joyce to see if the union would be willing to allow us to extend the notification of retirement of teachers under the Bath contract to April 1 st. The union agreed to the proposal. MOTION: Durfee SECOND: Rice VOTE: Board (7-0) TO: Amend the Bath Teachers contract to amend the notification of retirement to April 1,

7 FIRST READING OF POLICY DJH PURCHASING AND CONTRACTING: PROCUREMENT Superintendent Shuttleworth reported that this policy is a result of our recent audit. NEXT MEETING DATES AND LOCATIONS Next RSU 1 Board meeting will be held on Monday, February 22 nd at West Bath School at 6:00 PM. EXECUTIVE SESSION MOTION: Durfee SECOND: Barber VOTE: Board (7-0) TO: Enter into executive session pursuant to 1 M.R.S.A. 405 (6)(D) to discuss the superintendent s contract and labor contract negotiations (7:57 PM). RETURN TO GENERAL SESSION ADJOURN MOTION: Rice SECOND: Harkins VOTE: Board (7-0) TO: Adjourn at 9:20 PM. Respectfully submitted, William Shuttleworth Secretary 7