Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!

Deer Isle-Stonington CSD #13 School Committee

Meeting Minutes

Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School

Tuesday, December 4, 2001 at 6:30 P.M.

 

Board Members Present:

Barrett Brewer, Stephen Johnson, Larry Moffet, Skip Greenlaw and Ted Ames (at 6:34 PM).

Board Members Absent: Buz White

Staff Present:

Bruce Ives, Lois Hunt, Mark Hurvitt, Tom Brennan, Mike Wood, Warren Berkowitz, Kim Larsen, Nancy Smith, Katy Helman, Pam McDonald.

Guests:

Sebert Brewer, Charles Hamblett, Wendy Alpaugh, Bill McDonnell, Jim Straub, Linda Nelson, Alice Wilkinson, Jody Ciomei, Sandra Eaton, Beth Faulkingham, Caitlin Foster, Derek Siebert, Lacy Greenlaw, Jessica Robbins, Keegan McDonnell, Erin Haskell, Kourtney Larsen, Jessi Tarallo, Daryl Dunham, Gina Fuller, Kathleen Black, Emma Pope-Welch, Becca Goff, Lynsey Branson, Tracy Melanson, Alice Anderson, Molly McDonnell, Isaac Dworsky, Liz Shepard, Ellen Cavier

  1. Call to Order and Declaration of a Quorum:
  2. Brewer called the meeting to order and declared a quorum at 6:30 P.M.

  3. Moment of Silence:
  4. A moment of silence was observed.

  5. Citizen Comments:
  6. Charles Hamblett shared some thoughts about the High School Librarian position.

  7. Approval of the Agenda:
  8. Brewer requested postponement of Action Items 8.B.1. High School Librarian Nomination and 8.F. Reapportionment Committee Recommendation. Motion by Moffet, second by Greenlaw, to amend the agenda and approve the agenda as amended. Vote: 4/Yes, 0/No.

  9. Approval of the minutes of the November 6 and 19, 2001 Meetings:
  10. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Moffet to approve the Minutes of the November 6 and 19, 2001 School Committee Meetings as presented. Vote: 4/Yes, 0/No.

  11. Reports:
    1. Maintenance Committee

Sebert Brewer reported:

Brewer answered several questions. Ames expressed interest in reviewing the results of the water tests.

    1. Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School Principal

Mark Hurvitt reported:

    1. Deer Isle-Stonington High School Principal

Tom Brennan reported:

Assistant Superintendent of Schools:

Ives reported:

 

  1. DISCUSSION ITEMS:
    1. Condom Availability at the High School
    2. Senior Jessica Robbins, representing the Peer Support group, requested the school committee reconsider approval for the placement of condom machines in the high school student restrooms. She reviewed the history of the request, which was initially presented to the committee in 1997. Robbins stated the Peer Support Group has selected this issue as one of their projects for the year. She provided a written student survey analysis concerning sexual activity and reviewed these findings with the committee. Local medical and social services representatives were present to share information. Family Consumer Science teacher Nancy Smith, Ellsworth Family Planning Center Counselor Gina Fuller, MDI students and Dr. Joseph Babbitt, M.D. of the Island Medical Center each presented information to support the request. David Pelletier read an article that expressed concerns about the failure rate of condoms. There was general discussion. Brewer stated this would be presented for action at the January meeting. Greenlaw asked for relative policy samples from MDI and Ellsworth. Brewer thanked Robbins and all that participated in tonight's discussion.

    3. Substitute Teacher Policy 5.03
    4. Hurvitt explained that recent issues concerning long term substitute teacher pay have been addressed in this version. The revision now includes a gradation of long term substitute teacher pay for certified teachers when lesson plan development, staff and parent meetings, and curriculum work are included in the responsibilities of a long term teaching assignment. There was lengthy discussion. Brennan and Hurvitt expressed their satisfaction with the proposed changes. Some minor language changes will be made to paragraph B. and C. The policy will be presented for a second reading at the next meeting.

    5. Request to Reinstate Chocolate Milk
    6. Webster reported that high school Cook Kate Hunt has lost the sale of 50 to 60 units of chocolate milk per day since the board action to ban its sale. She requested that she be allowed to return to selling chocolate milk. Webster provided nutritional information submitted by Hunt. There was general discussion. Greenlaw expressed concerns about failing to provide a calcium source. Dr. Wendy Alpaugh attested to Moffet's concerns about sugar content. She requested the addition of skim milk. The request to reinstate will be presented for action in January.

    7. Emergency Evacuation and Fire Drills Policy 6.0
    8. Hurvitt reported his attempts to reschedule the Sheriff Departments for the Emergency and Crisis Plan audit have been unsuccessful. Brewer suggested implementing an initial version until the audit could be completed. There was general discussion about existing procedures. Greenlaw questioned the location of the buses during the school day. Hurvitt was hopeful to have a recommendation in place by the January meeting.

    9. Weapons and Violence Policy 7.07
    10. The policy was presented for the second reading. Johnson suggested several language changes. There was some specific discussion about weapons in vehicles. Greenlaw expressed concerns about boilerplate language. A revision will be presented for action in January.

    11. Librarian Job Description Policy 9.16
    12. The policy was presented for the first reading. Greenlaw suggested several changes to the language in Qualifications, sections 2 and 3. There was brief discussion. The policy will be presented with revisions for discussion at the next meeting.

    13. MSMA Report on CSD Policy Manual
    14. Ives distributed copies of the MSMA review of the CSD Policy Manual and relayed the Superintendent's request that the committee members take time to carefully review these recommendations. Ives shared some of his experiences in policy maintenance. He suggested a Policy Subcommittee held outside of regular committee meetings would be beneficial in streamlining the process. Johnson and Webster are the only members of the existing subcommittee. Greenlaw volunteered to serve. After further discussion, it was the consensus to schedule a Policy Review workshop for committee members in order to form an approach plan and guidelines for updating policy.

    15. School Committee Goals
    16. Greenlaw requested another retreat with a facilitator to review and establish goals. The committee was in favor of his suggestion. Brewer asked the committee to carefully consider Webster's K-12 Plan. (Copies were distributed.) Moffet referred to the Long-Range Plan. Ives will check on the availability of the facilitator in time for the next meeting.

    17. 2000-01 CSD Financial Audit

    Ives referred to Webster's recommendations based on the 2000-01 CSD Financial Audit. Brewer noted copies of the audit were distributed to committee members at the November 19th meeting. There was brief discussion. Action to accept the audit will be presented in January.

     

  2. ACTION ITEMS:
    1. Part-time Assistant Principal Job Description 9.07
    2. Ives reviewed the changes since the last reading. There was no further discussion. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Moffet to approve Policy 9.07 as presented. Vote: 5/Yes, 0/No.

    3. Personnel Nominations
      1. High School Librarian (Postponed)
      2. Special Education Ed Tech
      3. Ives nominated George Ballou for an increase to full time Special Education Ed Tech. Motion by Moffet, second by Greenlaw to approve George Ballou as full time Special Education Ed Tech II. Vote 5/Yes, 0/No.

      4. Part-time High School Assistant Principal

      Ives nominated Mike Wood for position of Part Time High School Assistant Principal. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Ames to approve Mike Wood as part time High School Assistant Principal at a stipend of $7,500 for the 2001-02 school year. There was brief discussion. Vote: 5/Yes, 0/No.

    4. Process for Policy Development and Revision Policy 2.03
    5. The policy was presented with no further changes since the last reading. There was brief discussion. Brewer suggested a minor language change to the second sentence of Section 1. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Moffet to approve Policy 2.03 including the language change as suggested. Vote: 5/Yes, 0/No.

    6. Ethics/Communication Policy 2.11
    7. Policy 2.11 was presented with no further changes. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Ames to adopt Policy 2.11 as presented. Vote: 5/Yes, 0/No.

    8. Middle School Co-Curricular Policy 3.16A
    9. The policy was presented with one minor correction noted. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Moffet to adopt Policy 3.16A. Johnson suggested a minor change to Section 7.A. (remove language "approved by the School Committee.") There was no further discussion. Motion by Greenlaw to approve Policy 3.16A as amended. Vote: 5/Yes, 0/No.

    10. Reapportionment Committee Recommendation (Postponed)
    11. Brewer asked for school committee endorsement of the Reapportionment Committee recommendation at the Special School Committee Meeting to be held December 6th. She distributed copies of the report to each member.

    12. Acceptance of a donation to the DISES Library

    Motion by Greenlaw, second by Johnson to accept a donation in the amount of $2,000 from Carol Gotwals to purchase reference materials for the Elementary Library. Vote: 5/Yes, 0/No.

     

  3. COMMUNICATIONS:
  4. There were none.

  5. EXECUTIVE SESSIONS
    1. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Johnson to enter Executive Session on a Special Education student issue at 9:20 P.M. Vote: 5/Yes, 0/No. Those in attendance included Brewer, Greenlaw, Ames, Johnson, Moffet, Ives and Berkowitz. Out of executive session at 9:35 P.M.
    2. Motion by Greenlaw, second by Brewer to enter Executive Session to review legal issues at 9:38 P.M. Vote: 5/Yes, 0/No. Those in attendance included Ives, Brewer, Greenlaw, Ames, Johnson and Moffet. The meeting returned to regular session at 9:48 P.M.
  6. ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Brewer to adjourn at 9:50 P.M. Vote: 5/Yes, 0/No.

 

 

Respectfully submitted:


Lois Hunt