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Deer Isle-Stonington CSD School Committee

Meeting Minutes

February 5, 2002

Board Members Present: Skip Greenlaw, Ted Ames, Larry Moffet and Steve Johnson    

Board Member Absent: Barrett Brewer

Staff Present: Tom Brennan, Mark Hurvitt, Steve Smith, Mike Wood, Dennis Saindon, Terry Siebert, Nancy Smith, Sally Foley, Tasha Brown and Robert Webster

Citizens and Guests Present: Linda Nelson, Susan Shepard, Walter Komeiga, Jennifer Klemenz, Norma Vickerson, Pat Shepard, Leslie Vickerson and Adam Klemenz

1. Call to Order/Quorum

     Vice-Chairman Moffet called the meeting to order and declared a quorum at 7:02 p.m.

2. Moment of Silence

     A moment of silence was observed.

3. Citizen Comments

     Three Deer Isle-Stonington students presented information on the Student Ambassadors Program. Pat Shepard, Leslie Vickerson and Adam Klemenz are raising money to participate in the program in Australia next spring.

4. Approval of the Agenda

     Motion by Ames, second by Johnson, to approve the agenda with the addition of an Action Item 7G. Grading and Curriculum Committee. Vote: 4 yes; 0 no.

5. Approval of Minutes

Motion by Greenlaw, second by Ames, to approve the minutes of January 3, January 8 and January 16, 2002 as presented. Vote: 4 yes; 0 no.

6.  REPORTS

         A. Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School Principal

Mr. Hurvitt provided information on:

·      A recent Partners in Education meeting

·      The transition to computer generated student grade reports

·      Coming events in the auditorium including concerts by the Prism Brass Quintet and Frank Gotwals

·      Plans for an elementary school sign on Route 15

Greenlaw raised questions about the time spent by students on special programs such as concerts and the timeliness of information on planning for the school sign.

     B. Deer Isle-Stonington High School Principal 

Mr. Brennan informed the Committee of the:

·      New librarian Marcia Schatz beginning work

·      Principal’s advisory committee meetings with students on school climate

·      Curriculum committee meetings with the faculty

·      Scheduling committee’s planning of the 2002-03 school master schedule

·      Work on the Program of Studies revisions

·      Mr. Saindon’s shop yardsale of equipment that has been replaced

·      New high school leadership team members Katie Helman and Peter Friedell

·      Honda Motors use of the school as a base for filming a car advertisement

     C. Superintendent

Webster reported that:

·      the Sedgwick Board inquired about a combined Union 76 bus contract bid

·      MSMA will present information on health insurance to the central office staff in March

·      Debbie Greenlaw has been chosen for Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers based on nominations by two former students

·      Charlotte Bates had provided the listing of required and recommended special education policies as a follow-up to the Board’s policy workshop

·      The late Grace Marshall had set up a scholarship bequest in her will

Webster distributed a student behavior plan approved by the CSD Board in 2000,  copies of the Dept. of Education’s booklet on development of student codes of conduct, a time-line from Mr. Brennan on development of the high school master schedule, a calendar of auditorium events from Mr. Monteith and a report produced by the state task force on the reform of school funding.

7. ACTION ITEMS

A. Health Counseling

Motion by Greenlaw, second by Johnson, that pamphlets containing information on abstinence, reproductive health and the availability of counseling and free condoms from the school nurse be made available in the high school at appropriate locations and that parental permission not be required for such counseling and free condoms. Vote: 4 yes; 0 no.

      B. Part Time Student Status

           Webster recommended that Meredith Wheaton be granted her request for part-time student status. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Ames, to approve Meredith Wheaton’s request for part-time student status. Vote: 4 yes; 0 no.

      C. High School Social Studies Curriculum

           Mr. Siebert and Mr. Wood explained the need for an expanded social studies curriculum that will allow the social studies department to offer an economics course. Economics is included in the Learning Results. They recommended increasing the social studies graduation credit requirement from two to three credits. To expand the social studies course offering, meet needs in the English department and continue the development of Advanced Placement courses, Siebert and Wood urged the Board to approve a new half-time social studies and half-time English teaching position. The school committee will take up the recommendation as part of the budget development process.

      D. Budget Development Schedule

           Motion by Ames, second by Johnson, to approve the 2002-03 CSD budget development schedule as revised. Vote: 4 yes; 0 no.

      E. Donation for Equipment

Motion by Greenlaw, second by Ames, to accept with thanks the donation of $2,500 from Alwyn and Irving Johnson for the purchase of a kiln for the art program at the new school. Vote: 4 yes; 0 no.

      F. Gifted/Talented Plan

           Johnson asked that the plan reflect its limited scope of gifted/talented instruction for only grades 3 through 8. He noted that approved programs require a gifted/talented program K-12. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Johnson, to approve the gifted/talented plan with Johnson’s amendment. Vote: 4 yes; 0 no.

      G. Grading and Curriculum Committee

           Motion by Greenlaw, second by Johnson, to approve the Grading and Curriculum Policy Committee with the addition of the Home Schooling Policy and the appointment of a parent of a former home schooled student to the committee. Vote: 4 yes; 0 no.

8.  DISCUSSION ITEMS

     A. School Improvement Plan

           Steve Smith and Sally Foley presented information on the School Improvement Accountability Grant which they had completed with the assistance of a faculty team. If approved by DOE the $70,000 grant will provide for development of consistent K-8 math and writing programs, alignment of the math and writing programs with the Learning Results, funding of professional development for teachers and will address the student achievement shortcomings identified by the school’s “needs improvement” status. The budget, timeline and goals were included in the grant. Moffet commended the staff for putting together a comprehensive proposal. Greenlaw asked Foley for additional student achievement graphs on other areas of the curriculum.

      B. Budget Issues and Priorities

           Webster listed program and staffing proposals that are under consideration for the budget proposal that will be presented to the school committee for a first review at the March regular meeting. A number of programs will include requests for significant increases in supply and equipment budgets. Johnson said a K-12 gifted/talented program should be considered. Greenlaw asked that as much budget information as possible be provided prior to the March meeting.

      C. Policy Workshop

           The policy committee had already scheduled meetings for February 14th, 26th and March 6th during the superintendent’s report.

     D. Board Goals Workshop

           Webster will make arrangements for lunch at the March 9th workshop with facilitator David Sanderson. Greenlaw will make arrangements for a meeting location.

9. COMMUNICATIONS

     Webster distributed letters written by third grade students from Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School imploring the Board to provide a remedy for the unpalatable water at the school.

10.  Adjournment

     Motion by Greenlaw, second by Ames, to adjourn the meeting at 9:10 p.m. Vote: 4 yes; 0 no.

Respectfully Submitted,

_______________________________

Superintendent of Schools