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Deer Isle-Stonington CSD #13 School Committee

Meeting Minutes

Deer Isle-Stonington High School

Tuesday, April 2, 2002 at 6:30 P.M.

 

Board Members Present:

Barrett Brewer, Larry Moffet, Ted Ames, Steve Johnson, Kathie Keane and Skip Greenlaw (at 6:35)

 

Staff Present:

Bruce Ives, Mark Hurvitt, Tom Brennan, Mary Banfield, Tom Duym, Dennis Saindon and Terry Siebert

 

Guests:

Eve Hamblett, Joe Rizzo, Roger Burkhart, Jessica Tarallo, Megan Blackmore and Michael Smith

 

1)      Call to Order and Declaration of a Quorum:

Chair Brewer called the meeting to order and declared a quorum at 6:32 P.M.

 

2)      Moment of Silence:

A moment of silence was observed.

 

3)      Citizen Comments:

There were no comments. 

 

4)      Approval of the Agenda:

Brewer requested that a report regarding the Healthy Island Project be added to the agenda as Report 6.A.1.   Motion by Keane, second by Ames, to approve the agenda as amended.  Vote: 5/Yes, 0/No.

 

5)      Approval of the minutes of the March 5 and March 18, 2002 Meetings:

Regarding the March 18th minutes, Keane pointed out the misspelling of her name and that she had been present in that meeting’s Executive Session.  Motion by Moffet, second by Ames, to approve the minutes of these meetings as corrected.    Vote: 5/Yes, 0/No.

 

(Greenlaw arrived at 6:35 P.M.)

 

6)      Reports:

A)    1. Healthy Island Project:

Eve Hamblett shared information about the April 27th “Girls Night Out” to be held at the high school for girls in grades 5-8.  This program has taken place since 1997, and its purpose is to encourage self-esteem, widen horizons, and have fun.  This year’s session may include: Broadway Dance, Pottery, Self-defense, African Drumming, Fairy Tales, Spring Decorations, and speaker/facilitators from the Next Step organization.

 

A)    Maintenance Committee:

Hurvitt reported that the committee met in March but there is little to report.  Greenlaw expressed concern about water quality and taste in the schools and requested a future report from Terry Lowry in May.

 

B)    Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School Principal:

Mark Hurvitt reported the following:

·        University of Maine Orono String Quartet

·        Chess Boosters Meeting

·        Dave Marlett Benefit Performance

·        Health Fair

·        Milkweed Puppet Theater

·        PIE Meeting Minutes (provided)

 

C)    Deer Isle-Stonington High School Principal:

Mr. Brennan reported on the following:

·        Field trips (Bangor Opera House, Portland Museum of Art, band festival in Scarborough)

·        Progress on the master schedule for 2002-03 classes

·        State Chess Champion Nick Ciomei

·        Students as Administrators Day

·        Weekly themes for the school

·        Calendar of events

 

D)    Assistant Superintendent of Schools:

Bruce Ives reported the following:

·        Meeting with PIE Chair Peggy Zembruski

·        Mr. Saindon’s attempt to dispose of paper cutter.  (Brewer will contact Saindon with suggestions.)

·        Suggested meeting date for principals’ evaluation meeting

·        Potential suggestions for teacher workshop days in 2002-03 calendar

·        Meeting with Department of Education Assessment Coordinator

·        Results from Staff Development Committee’s survey

 

7)      DISCUSSION ITEMS:

A)    Fisheries Program Proposal

Teachers Tom Duym and Mary Banfield described their proposed program and its various components.  There was considerable discussion and several questions regarding the number of students involved, objectives and expectations of the course, content and activities, and emphasis on Maine Learning Results.   The program should be further discussed with emphasis on safety and liability concerns.

 

B)    School Committee/Administration Goals

Ives briefly reviewed his revisions of David Sanderson’s notes on the early March Committee-Administrators Retreat held at the Stonington School.  Greenlaw requested that Ives, Brennan, Hurvitt, and Webster meet to make Goals 2, 3, and 4 more specific.  This should be a discussion item again in May.

 

C)    Mariner Statue Project

Brennan introduced Joe Rizzo, who described the proposed sculpture project.  Mr. Rizzo provided his resume and a sketch for Committee review.  The eventual cost would be approximately $22,000, and funds would need to be raised locally.  There was considerable discussion, centered particularly upon the funding expectations being placed on local citizens and businesses to raise necessary monies.  The Committee generally expressed its concerns about such art-related ventures and a need to develop an appropriate policy for this type of proposal.

 

D)    Draft #1 of the 2002-03 School Budget

Chair Brewer suggested moving this discussion to the end of the agenda.  There were no objections.

 

E)     Grading and Graduation Requirements Committee Report

Greenlaw reported that the Committee should expect a recommendation that the high school graduation requirement for Social Studies should be increased from 2 to 3 credits.

 

8)      ACTION ITEMS:

A)    Hancock County Technical Center Cooperative Agreement

Motion by Greenlaw, second by Brewer, to table this item until more information about the tuition rate is available.  Vote: 5/Yes, 0/No, 1/Abstention (Johnson).

 

B)    Personnel Action

1.      High School Life Skills Teacher

Based on Special Services Director Berkowitz’s recommendation, Ives nominated Lisa Grant for this position.  There was discussion about potential costs for this program as a whole.  Motion by Johnson, second by Ames, to table this action until the May meeting.  Vote: 6/Yes, 0/No.

 

2.      Assistant Varsity Baseball Coach

Ives nominated Josh Weed for the position of Assistant Varsity Baseball Coach.  Motion by Greenlaw, second by Keane, to support this nomination.  Vote: 6/Yes, 0/No.

 

 

3.      Assistant Varsity Softball Coach

Ives nominated Shelly Richardson for the position of Assistant Varsity Softball Coach.  Motion by Greenlaw, second by Ames, to support this nomination.  Vote: 6/Yes, 0/No.

 

B)    Senior Class “Project Graduation” Plans

Class Advisor Terry Siebert reviewed specifics of the plans to visit Six Flags New England, in Springfield, MA.  Motion by Greenlaw, second by Ames, to support this trip.  Vote: 6/Yes, 0/No.

 

C)    Advanced French Students’ Quebec Trip Plans

Principal Brennan shared information provided by Mr. Powell, Foreign Language teacher, about this trip to Quebec.  Motion by Greenlaw, second by Johnson, to support the request.  Vote: 6/Yes, 0/No.

 

9)      COMMUNICATIONS:

 

7.D.  DISCUSSION: Draft #1 of the 2002-03 School Budget

Discussion about Draft #1 of the proposed 2002-03 budget continued.  Several lines, especially those related to special education, were of particular concern, e.g. transportation, educational technicians’ time, the Life Skills program, placement, and need for facility renovations.  The Committee had many questions for Superintendent Webster and Special Services Director Berkowitz to be addressed at the budget workshop on April 11th.

 

10)    ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Greenlaw, second by Ames, to adjourn at 9:32 P.M. 

 

Respectfully submitted:

Bruce Ives

Assistant Superintendent