001All right. Good evening, everyone. I'm going to call the February 11th school board meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. If everyone could please stand for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Roll call. Megan Arshambo. Melissa Bacon. >> Carmen Barski. >> Suzanne Bower excused. Mark Cardazano here. >> Elizabeth Day. >> Michelle Felicetti. Anastasia Ferguson >> here. >> Eric Garrison, he will be here. He's just running a little late. Uh Jod Lane, I'm here. Jennifer Mayo. Amy Morrison. >> Wes Finny here. >> Adam Tangway. Judith Val. >> D. Vigliata here. Zoe Anthony Walker Vivian >> here. >> We have a quorum eight >> 13 with 13
002directors present. Um as far as adjustments to the agenda, I would like to make a motion to make two adjustments to tonight's agenda. I'd like to move the item under new business number two. I'd like to move that up in tonight's agenda to immediately follow the superintendent report so that we can get our math team students home at a more reasonable hour. I'd also like to add another item under new business for a discussion regarding a schoolboard sponsored essay contest. So, I'd like to make a motion to add those or to make that swap and add that item. >> We have a motion and a second to make those adjustments. Is there any discussion? All those in favor? That carries. Thank you. Consent agenda. Do we have a motion to accept the consent agenda? >>
003Oh, I think Melissa beat you. >> Jen, >> I'll put you as a second. >> Oh, Jen. Oh, I thought it was you. I apologize. So, who made the motion? >> All right. D motioned. Anastasia seconded. Is there any discussion regarding the consent agenda? All in favor? That motion carries. We'll get there. Public comment. Do we have any public comment this evening? No public comment. Be very brief with my board chair report this evening. Um I simply want to share thank you to the board members that attended our review on Monday night of subsidy and fund balance. Colin did a fantastic job explaining that in great detail while still making it very easily understood by people that are not um numbers people like me. So that um that review, excuse me, is available on the
004schoolboard YouTube page. So I highly recommend that you take the time to listen to that when you have the opportunity. It's about an hour um and goes really in depth to the ED279 formula and how state subsidy is calculated um as well as use of fund balance. So um it was great and uh so thank you for those of you that attended and the people that have watched that watched at home and have watched at home since that's all I have for my board chair report tonight. So I will turn things over to Dr. Doyle for the superintendent report. Thank you so much as always. Let's start with our student representative report with Walker and Zoe. >> All right, good evening everyone. Uh so February 12th is going to mark the 100th day of school
005for uh grades 1 through nine and the following day will mark the hundth day for grades 10 through 12 and kindergarten and prek students. Um so tomorrow will be an especially big milestone at the elementary level as a lot of students will spend that day um working with the number 100 and conceptualizing it. Uh on Wednesday, January 28th, the first semester of the school year ended at MHS and the second semester began the next day and many students uh witnessed schedule and class changes and February vacation will begin on February 14th at the end of this week. Alfred Elementary's recent family bingo night was a lot of fun for those who participated and it raised over $300 for the PTSA. On January 30th, the school had a winter wonderland spirit day and everyone wore white
006blue or dressed like a snowman. On Thursday, February 5th, the school held their family canvas paint night where participants were guided by a local artist to paint a fun Valentine's Day scene. Drawings began for the PTSA's Community Full of Love calendar fundraiser at the start of this month. And those who purchase tickets will have a chance to win cash, a gift card, or another prize from a local business until the end of the month. During their library block, students at Lyman and Alfred Elementary will be reading and reviewing the Chickity Award nominees for this year. Elementary students throughout the state of Maine can read the 10 nominated picture books and then vote for their favorite to be awarded the Maine Children's Choice Picture Book Award. The books will be read one at a time throughout
007the next couple months and students will be working on reviewing and judging them. February is kindness month at Lyman and they will be celebrating in a few ways. They hosted a spirit week to start the month. Monday was be the eye and kindness where everyone dressed to impressed. Uh Tuesday was hat day and the theme was hats off to kindness. It's good to be unique was Wednesday's theme and the dress up theme was mixy match day. The following day everyone wore their favorite team shirt for I'm on team kindness and the week's final spirit day was Cupid's colors. The school is having a door decorating contest which will run until February 13th. Classroom specialists and staff are encouraged to decorate their door with a kindness theme. And classes will take a tour of the building
008and all the decorated doors after February break. They will be reviewing the doors and leaving a compliment card at each door they visit. And once students return from break, there will be additional kindness challenges. In January, Lyman recognized 27 students as model mustangs of the month. On February 12th, the school will host a family Valentine's bingo. The event will begin at 5 and there will be chips, drinks, and baked goods available for purchase. During the first week of February, the uh PTC distributed calendars for their March calendar raffle. Each ticket costs $10, and there will be three winners selected every day during the month of March, and the total value of all prizes for the raffle is $7,000. At Waterboro, students will be focusing on compassion and empathy this month. 29 students were selected as
009model mustangs in January and 32 students received an award in recognition for demonstrating January's character trait which was honesty. Each student in grades 1 through five will be bringing home a free book about money. These are uh sponsored by the Finance Authority of Maine and each grade will have a different book teaching them important topics about money. I'll turn it over to Zoe for the second half of this evening's report. Thank you. Good afternoon everyone. I will cover the second half. So also at Waterboro they had a book tasting thing during um their library classes where students were able to go and read books from different genres at tables throughout the room. They were able to choose a genre, select a book, and then read a few pages and determine if they would like to
010read it in the future. Um this gave them many new experiences on genres they may not have found otherwise. From February 23rd to the 27th, Waterbor will also have a kindness week. Monday is I stand up for kindness where there will they'll wear silly socks or mismatch shoes. Tuesday is I shine with kindness which is wear neon or bright clothes. I root for kindness is on Wednesday and their dress up is sports and jersey day. Thursday is I dream of kindness which is pajama day. And Friday is I share spirit of kindness which is everyone wearing Mustang pride. Shappley Memorial uh also has a kindness month where the prek prek classes have started exploring snow and building things like hibernation caves in the snow. And I've also began talking about weather. Um like many of
011the other other elementary schools uh they will be taking prek applications for the fall of the upcoming school year. and their applications will be accepted until the 23rd of February. The fifth grade and kindergarten students of Shopley have been experiencing Book Buddies as I believe Waterboro also does. Uh this gives fifth graders a chance and kindergarteners a chance to have more good experiences with books, improving kindergarteners literacy skills as well as fifth graders leadership skills. They recently had a stuffy day, spirit, stuffy spirit day. Um, and they have lots of fun activities for the 100th day of school, much like the other elementary schools. As well as they have a 100th day home project where families are challenged to design to design something with a material they can use a hundred of. And these are
012things that they could display on a t-shirt, poster board, or even on a table. Line Elementary has started a schoolwide food drive. each class being given a certain kind of food to bring in. This started on the 26th of January and will go until February 9th. Lion also has a kindness focus with two spirit weeks. The first week going from the 2nd to the 6th of February and then the second week being February 23rd to the 27th. Some of those many spirit days are career day, rainbow day, hat day, beach day, and dress up day as well as many others. Master sick has a Valentine's Day themed spirit week that during this week leading up to February vacation on Wednesday uh 11th the M mmea district 1 jazz festival um happened and coaches meet the
013coaches night for winter two sports season was on the 4th. The new the practices will start on February 9th other than swim. The swim will start after February vacation. Master High School finished their finals for semester 1 on the 28th of January after the snow day and with the closing of finals in the first semester. The second semester started on the 29th and the their ad drop period lasts until the 6th. the MHS competition cheer team competed in a region in a regional cheering competition in Sanford that they qualified for the state competition in Augusta which is on the 7th law enforcement club has started their bi-weekly meetings the first one was on Monday January 26th the real the resiliency project started their has started their research on the warning signs of eating disorders so
014that students can recognize signs if they need to on February 6th The there will be a cheer showcase including the high school varsity team, middle school competition team, middle school sideline cheering, and the Mayfact youth competition teams. There will be vendor tables and refreshments to sell at the event as well as at Massipik. We just had a winter wonderland masquerade dance which was on the 7th starting at 6 p.m. It was 3 hours long. tickets were sold the week leading up during their lunch periods. Between the 100th day of school, sec and the second semester, um we there have been lots of activities and things, but it's also important to remember that the 100th day isn't just a mark on the calendar, but it represents the learning growth and success of each student in each
015classroom. And this is compounded by the nearly 3,000 district students. Yeah, that'll conclude our report. >> Thank you so much, Zoe. I know I speak for both Dr. Marquee and myself when I say how glad we are to have you here and delivering these reports um both of you, Walker and Zoe. And I just want to point out that you make such a great role model for our younger students who are here today um representing the math meet team. So, nothing makes me happier than to have a room full of kids here while we conduct this business. Even if it might be just a little bit boring for you guys, it makes it a lot better for us. So, thank you all for being here. Um, so I am sitting in tonight for Dr. Marquee
016who is representing RSU57 at the AASA National Conference with the main delegation in Nashville. Um, I wanted to start tonight by thanking our operations team in particular for getting us off the ground with an ontime start for this morning. It was a little bit of a nailbiter last night, but um with some lucky timing with the weather and town um officials kind of stepping up on their um work on the roads and things like that, everything sometimes just comes together and um it's not without a lot of work that happens behind the scenes in cooperation with our operations department. So, thank you to all of those folks in our operations and transportation staff. Um last week we celebrated school counseling week in the district which is an opportunity for us to recognize the good work
017that goes on through our school counseling staff throughout the district at all levels. Um their main focus in their work with students is supporting their academic success as well as their well-being and their needs while they're here for school and also in terms of their skill development and their academic planning for the future beyond the work that they do in our district. We're very grateful to have these professionals on our staff who work very very hard to make sure that the experience for students at Massabistic Schools is a good one. We also want to recognize that February 15th is SRO appreciation day. Similarly, we're really fortunate to have deputies Pellerin and CR from the York County Sheriff's Department who are here with us um every day providing a positive presence, good role models for students
018in schools. They help us with things that are great and small that make our schools a safe and welcoming place to be and we are grateful to have them on our team. Uh briefly, I'll touch on um athletics. Although Zoe talked a little bit about this, I wanted to highlight that we do have a few teams that are headed to states. Our track team, our swim team, cheering, wrestlers are all on their way to states. Hockey has made it to the playoffs um in our co-op with the Gorum Rams. I also wanted to point out that we've hosted our second unified game um which is really a sight to see. It's an amazing spectacle of sportsmanship. We've had two very competitive games that have taken place here on the home turf. Um and our next
019game is um on the 24th, which is Tuesday when we return from break. We are playing Bifford at 3:30. I encourage folks to come on out and cheer the athletes on. Monday was the start of the middle school's winter 2 session for athletics. There was a lot of participation. Those final numbers are still forthcoming. Um in session two, we offer swim, wrestling, indoor track, and unified basketball. I'd like to remind families that the prek lottery is currently open and closes on that same day, Tuesday, February 23rd. Um, if folks are interested in more information about eligibility or registration, they can go to RSU57 and look at the registration page where you can find more information there. Also, for our youngest learners, the second family literacy engagement event, which is part of the funds that we
020use for family engagement for our ESA title one, um, was held last night here in the East Building. It seems like it's slowly a growing trend. I would encourage folks to take a look out in their community newsletters for information about that. It's a fantastic opportunity that's provided, as I said, in this grant-f funded opportunity in conjunction with our instructional support network. So, what we provide on those events is not only a meal and some child care, but also an opportunity for families to learn some really important strategies that relate to literacy. The upcoming meeting, the next session that's being held is March 10th from 5:30 to 7:30. We would encourage folks to consider if you can just attend one date, there's a lot to be gained from that. So, even just one day, come
021on in, check it out. I think you'll leave with a lot of resources and support. The public information session for the budget was held this past Monday evening here in the east. It is accessible by our YouTube playlist where if folks are streaming right now with us. If you look on this video set, you'll be able to see that meeting from Monday night. There was an overview of the budget that was provided that's very very detailed and helpful as a baseline in order to inform the community about the budget process and how we arrive at calculations and formulas but also some of the work specific to the finance committee. We also held a finance committee last night and the next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday the 24th at 6 o'clock at the east building and
022we would encourage folks as always to feel free to attend. Those meetings are open to the public. They're also available to watch on the RSU57 YouTube page. If you are prefer to stream that either live or after the fact, you can feel free to catch up with that. Lastly, I will wrap by wishing students and staff a restful and well-deserved February break. A reminder that our district offices are closed on Monday of next week for the holiday. But otherwise, we look forward to seeing you on the return from break. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Doyle. Uh any questions regarding the superintendent, student report? All right. So, next up on our agenda, we have made that adjustment and we are moving the presentation from our elementary math team right up to this spot. Um, and
023are very excited to hear from them. So, come on up. If you push the button on the right, I can turn that mic on for you. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. My name is Heather Graham. I am one of the GT teachers here in Massabisc. And um first of all, I want to thank the kids for coming and their parents. Thank you so much for coming out and supporting us this evening. Um w Dr. McKinnon, co-sp specialist. We are thrilled to be here presenting about uh our math teams. It's been a huge success in our elementary schools and we want to share why we're teaching them as well as give you a little history behind them. Uh I was a fourth and fifth grade GT teacher in RSU 21 for about three years. Uh
024at that time I was asked to teach the elementary math team for Seo School. I had an amazing teacher coach me as I coached the students. Our school always did quite well and there was a lot of pride in our winning team. When I became a GT teacher here, Dr. Marquee asked that we start the math teams in our elementary schools. I couldn't have been more excited. It's one of my favorite things to do. The math team stems from the Southern Main Math League, which includes fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth grade teams in about 30 schools around Southern Maine. The go the goal is to compete with all of the teams four times a year. Because we're brand new to the process, Dr. McKinnon and I felt that our five schools should compete for the
025first three meets in district in order to understand the process. So, we came up with having the teams compete here at the East Building. Our next one is tomorrow, by the way. So, you're more than welcome to comments from uh 10 to 12:30. Uh so, we've decided to meet here at the East Building. Um the last meet will be held in Portland at the Expo Center where we will compete with the other 30 um schools around the state. So, it'll be a lot of fun to see how how we size up with that as well. >> Uh, thank you for this opportunity to present tonight. I'm Emily McKinnon. Each meet includes two individual challenges, both arithmetic and geometry, and then there is a math team round where the students work in pairs to answer six
026very difficult questions. The team can discuss their strategy and they can um work during that team round. The scores are then recorded with the top five students in the district receiving individual ribbons. We've got a couple back here tonight. And a first place winner at each school and we award a team trophy for their highest overall score for each school. We then celebrate all our teams with a pizza lunch which is provided by our nutrition department at no charge for our students. We Oh, thank you. We would like to thank our special education department for providing our fabulous t-shirts for all of our students. Each shirt has the logo on the front and the team school name on the back. The athletes are very excited about their shirts. >> You are more than welcome again
027to attend. It's tomorrow right here uh about 10 o'clock start time. Lastly, we would like to share that next year we are planning on implementing two more schoolwide enrichment opportunities for any student that might like to participate. and those are going to be a spelling bee for the elementary level. Currently, we participate at the middle school level and send our students on to the York County B. So, we're excited for that opportunity. And the second thing we would like to implement is the battle of the books. So, that um entails each uh school will read certain titles. There's a given book list. It is a national thing that um occurs. And then we come together for a game and we determine our winners. Thank you so much. Are there any questions? >> I don't want
028I guess Jen. >> Oh, I was just wondering if we could meet the math athletes. >> Yes, >> we would love to introduce our math. Come on up. represent. Yes, >> come on. >> So, representing uh line school is Brooklyn Ry >> and we have two from Waterborough. We have Mason and we have Cooper and we also have Aspen from Lyman. >> Any other questions for us? Sure. Other hands popping up. All right, Jen. >> I was just wondering how students get picked for the team. So, at the very beginning of the year, we tell all of our fifth graders about the math teams and explain to them that they need to fill out an application. Uh they also have to answer some math problems. Our kids are all then accepted onto the team. Um
029and we choose the competitive teams based on um students that do the homework that show up for the math uh practices as well as we look at who is doing well on the um challenges that we give to them. So all fifth graders are welcome to be on if they choose. >> We have about 55 students participating across the district. >> Whoa, that's awesome. Judith. Um, yes. I thought you said that um that this was open to fifth and fifth through 7th grades. Now, do you have any fifth, sixth, seventh? >> So, what we're doing right now in the elementary schools, um, they're all fifth grade except we have four four competing in Chappley, uh, fourth graders that also compete in Chappley. Uh we have not done uh the sixth and seventh this year but
030I do believe it's been done in the past. >> Thank you. >> At the middle school it was. >> Thank you. >> Two and three years ago we had a middle school team. >> Any other questions? >> Well, Dr. Doyle, >> I just wanted to thank you all for being here. It's such an impressive feat. Um and to the students, we wish you the very best of luck tomorrow. We know that you're going to represent us well. Thank you. >> Thank you. And thank you so much. Now, you are of course welcome to stay for the rest of the meeting. It is going to be very exciting, but we completely understand also if you want to head home and and get settled in for the night. But thank you so much for coming in. Great
031job. Next up, standing committees. We will start with policy Beth. Okay. So, um, we met last week, um, with a whopping 26 policies that we went through, kind of combined two months worth. Um, we continued with the E policies, we did F policies, and then we started on G policies. Um, the E policies are the health and safety policies. Um, so we had a lot of people there. We had Richie from transportation, Ben from facilities, um Vanessa was there from food services. They were all there to answer questions when it came to all the policies um that were out cuz there was a lot of them. The school nurses were not there, but they did contribute a lot to all of their relevant policies that came out. Um well, I think one of them is
032actually coming for a first read. Um, one that came back that we did not bring for our first read because it was kind of uh we didn't feel like we needed to, but I wanted to just bring it to your attention was BDE-R. Um, that one was brought back because the only change was um since now we elect vice chairs, we don't need to vote on who's going to run a meeting if a chair can't be there. So, we removed that policy. But, I want to just make you guys aware that we did just remove that section. And for that reason, um, and then I wanted to just call attention to the to section H on that policy. And I'm just going to read it, but basically, um, it just says to as a reminder
033to if you can't be at a meeting, um, to make sure that you send out an email off to the other people in your town because it's we really need to have quorums at all of our, um, meetings. So, that's really important. So, I just wanted to bring that to everybody's attention. Um, and there are two policies coming for our first read tonight. So, I'll talk about those when we get there. And our next meeting is Wednesday, March 4th at 6:00 p.m. >> Thank you. Any questions for Beth on policy? Next up, finance. Wes, >> good evening. The RSU 57 Finance Committee uh met last evening on February 10th. Um our next meeting um is scheduled for Tuesday, February 24th. That's after the break. Um last night we got into a a budget update and
034the pro process of developing the budget is progressing nicely. Um the first thing we did was to review the forum that Dr. Doyle discussed a little earlier in her comments. We felt that the administrative team, Director Walsh, did an ex excellent job of making that presentation and we're hopeful that many of the citizens and public officials who listen in to our meeting uh here in particular tonight go out and watch that uh uh Zoom. that that was an outstanding presentation of state subsidy and fund balance which is at the root of our budget development process. We then went into a deeper dive on um on state subsidy and uh fund balance and got into a review of ED279 report analysis with the most updated information. We reviewed past historical data uh on the communities and
035um reviewed a spreadsheet that reviewed all the numbers per town. Um the pro process is moving smoothly and uh we would encourage any board members that uh want to attend these finance committee meetings to come. We have uh other board members that are pretty religious about it. As a matter of fact, Walker Vivian doesn't miss a meeting. Um the finance director's report u we're going we took a vote. We're going to be bringing before the uh board of directors next meeting a request to spend $170,000 for elevator repairs at Alfred Elementary. And that will come out of our capital reserve account if voted. Um, Director Walsh will present that at the next uh, board meeting in more detail on the school revolving renovation fund SRRF update. Uh, bids have gone out and are due back
036on February 27th, 2026 for the roof repairs for Alfred Elementary. Fiscal warrants were re were reviewed and approved. And again, the next meeting is 2:2426. and uh we'd appreciate as many people coming as possible. Thank you. >> Thank you, Wes. So, we did spend a lot of time last night talking about historical data and um correct me if I'm wrong, Colin, but at the next meeting, we're going to start talking numbers for um FY27. So, we're going to be really we're really in the thick of it with budget development right now. So, um if you're not able to be there and you know, you can always go back and watch those finance meetings and get the information up to date. um and to know where we are in the process. Any questions for Wes? Next
037up, HR Anastasia. >> We have not met since the last board meeting. Our next committee meeting is March 18th at 6 PM right here. >> Any questions regarding HR? All right. Old business, we have none. We will move on to new business and I will Oh, Dave. Um, I just wanted to mention the meeting that we have with Colin, isn't it? February 20. >> Yeah, but it's not a committee meeting. So, we're gonna um we're starting negotiations. So, that that is coming up. And I was actually going to mention that later on. Um, that negotiations is starting, but it's not a committee meeting and it's not a public meeting. So, but yes, you're correct. There is the HR team will be together on the 26th. >> Okay. Allen won't be there though. He's just getting
038it all organized for me. Um, excuse me. So, I will new business first read of policies. I'll turn it back over to Beth to go over these two policies that we are um discussing tonight. >> Um, thank you, Jody. This was much better when she was doing this, I swear. But anyway, um, okay. So, two policies are coming for a first read. The first one's JLCD, administration of medication to students. This is a lengthy policy. It is many many pages long. Um it is in your backup. If you are interested in seeing what has changed, I recommend clicking on the link in the agenda. Um some of the things these were all vetted by our nursing staff. So um they went through it extensively. Uh changes some of the things on there are um self-administering,
039administering medications for students. Um and then staff administering uh epinephrine and Narcan. So those are just some of the additions, but definitely take a look and if you have any questions on that, send them out. Um the second one is GBA, which is staff ethics and conflict of interest. There really wasn't a huge um change to this one, but a lot of clarification um and we had a pretty lengthy discussion about it and different examples and how it would affect the staff and um and different faculty and so take a look. If you have any questions on or clarifications on any of those, definitely reach out. But I am going on a cruise so I will not be available. So send it to me and to Adam um if you have any questions or about
040either of those things um before they come for a second read so that we can kind of go through them. Um and that is it for me those two. Perfect. So um I apologize when I put this on the agenda I did not note that action was needed but action is needed. We do need to take action and take a vote to accept the first reads. So I would entertain a motion to accept the first reads. >> Anastasia Beach Judith, but I can give you the second. So Anastasia motion Judith seconded. This is to accept the first reads. Um any uh questions or discussion? And >> I just want clarification if you can give it to me on the notification being removed versus the exceptions. the school board can make if there's no notification, how
041can we make an exception? >> Do you do you want to take it? >> Somebody Yes. Yeah, we talked about that for a long time. Let me um let me pull it back up so I can remember the exact wording. So it was redundant because the exceptions is the school board may approve an exception to this policy when the school board determines granting the exception is in the best interest. So but that notification was whenever a member of the immediate family of any administrative officer is hired the board should be notified. It doesn't mean we had to take action. It's just a notification and that could be that happens often. We're a large district with a lot of employees and it so then it was like do we need to be notified every time it
042happens? No, we just need to be notified if an exception needs to be made. So that's why we talked about removing that. So we'll be notified in the event that an exception is needed per this policy. So it you're thinking along the same lines as us because we went to strike that one sentence and that was probably the longest discussion that we had during the policy meeting was about removing that one sentence and but it just it did seem redundant that >> I mean I know I know as a district we try not to have a principal managing a teacher in the same household. We do our best. There is some overlap in some schools but it's minimal. just want to make sure we're not having a new administrator oversee their significant other, >> right?
043And in those instances, um, plans are put into place so that that is not the case. So if there was that situation, um, then that employee would be reporting to a different administrator, whether in the building or whether it's Dr. Doyle or whatever that plan in place is. But but those are the instances where the school board should be made aware that not just that that situation um that that hire or appointment to a position is being made but what the what the contingency plans are so that we can rest assured that there's no conflict of interest. So >> okay any other discussion on the first reads? So you have until March 4th. That's the next time policy meets. So, and we won't bring this back for a second read until the 11th of March.
044So, plenty of time if you think of anything. >> I was getting there. >> So, we have a motion in a second to approve the first read. All those in favor? Motion carries. Uh, next up, as per our adjustment to the agenda, um, I had a request from a board member to have a discussion amongst the board regarding a school uh, schoolboard sponsored essay contest. So, I'm going to give you um, the information that I have and we'll open it up for some discussion. So, um, Judith had reached out with interest to have the school board a discussion for the school board to sponsor an essay contest to, uh, recognize and celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation. So, um, I am more than happy to have the school board discuss that, but I wanted
045to give you some things to consider before we open it up. So, um, if we were to move forward with planning this and implementing it, does it align with our strategic plan? Does it fit within the purview of the school board and our role? Um, who will spearhead a project like this? Um, I will be very transparent with you that we are in the heart of budget season. Negotiation starts at the end of the month. The schoolboard self-evaluation is next month followed by the superintendent evaluation. So, I'm not able to spearhead a new project. Um, so that would need to be um delegated to someone else to to get this going. Um, what would the timeline be? Application process, eligibility, those types of things, a prize, like what would it be? Where would it come
046from? Um, and I I also did I went with Michelle's tried and true and I plugged it into I um AI I would say I AI of like how would you develop this? Um, and it's pretty much those you define your goal, you establish rules, who who's your audience, sponsorship, um, marketing, judging and selection. So it would be a a fairly large endeavor um to do this if we wanted to go forward it forward with it. I also wanted to let you know that the department of education the main department of education has main students invited to contribute to national youth artifact for the 250th anniversary. This is um going to be our eighth graders will be participating in this next fall um which will be uh and I haven't read through this whole thing
047but um but our eighth graders will already be doing a project centered around or an essay about the anniversary. So I'm going to turn it over to Judith first and then we'll open it up for board discussion. Judith, you're up >> after all of that. Um um I spoke to Dr. Marquee about this and had told him that I had sent you an email and I guess you were away during that time and he said he told me that that this would best be a project that would be conducted by administration, meaning school administration. and that he would speak to the administrative team about it. I don't know if he's done that yet. >> Yeah. >> And I thought about it and I tend to agree with him. Yeah. >> Because they would know more
048about how to conduct it. >> Yeah. So then it would no longer be a school board. >> Um I don't feel it needs to be a school board. After I spoke to him about it, I agreed with him. It's curriculum. >> Okay. >> And and it should be taken by and he said that he would bring it up at an administrative team. >> Okay. So, um he and I had talked about it when we developed the agenda for tonight and then we got sidetracked. Surprise. um and it didn't go on the agenda and I haven't spoken to him about it since and I didn't in fact even tell him that I was going to make this adjustment tonight because he wasn't going to be there or be here. So I did speak to Dr. Doyle
049about it. But if you want to table it and let the administrative team, you know, have Dr. Marqueis speak with the administr administrative team about taking it, that's fine by me as well. >> I'm I'm perfectly happy to do that. And if they need a board representative, I would be more than happy to serve on that. >> Um, if they don't choose to have a board representative, I see I don't know how these things operate. you may >> probably um Walker would be best suited because he's participated in so many essay contest, >> right? He is the essay writer in the room. I was going to actually ask him if there was any going on right now that were kind of in alignment >> with this as well because I figured if anyone knew >>
050that's why I was saying I just thought that the school board should do something >> and for the 250th anniversary >> and I just didn't know how to go about it and so that's why I was suggesting it. >> Yeah. But after speaking with um um Dr. Marquee, the way he presented it made a lot more sense. It's belongs in curriculum >> and it belongs at an administrative team meeting. >> Okay. >> Dr. Doyle, >> certainly if there's other discussion, you know, we would welcome that feedback. Um, I have placed the just as you were speaking and and shared that I placed the item on the agenda for the next instructional administrative team meeting. So, I'll make sure that that conversation does happen and we have that follow through. >> Okay. Thank you, De. >>
051I I really enjoy this intention. Um, you know, especially given what our climate is in celebration of our 250th of our nation. I think this could really create an opportunity for students to very genuinely and comprehensively express whatever the subject matter might be on that essay, but express how they view our nation at this point. Um, and if we do pass it on to administration still, if there is a way that maybe we can still keep our collaboration with it and maybe offer a $250 scholarship for whoever they and we but we would kind of give them the reigns of like, okay, if this is an administration kind of run deal, but we want to support it, is there a way to find a bridge for both to be a part of it. >> Yeah,
052I would think that it's certainly something that could be explored. As far as a scholarship, I So, if it's a contest, I'm the funding, our scholarship fund is designated just as that. So, um that's something that down the road could be I I don't want to say one way or the other which direction it could go. Um because I don't want Colin to get mad at me, Michelle. I think it is it is a wellplaced you know well thought idea but again then it's like well does someone have a song for the 250 so you start is it only kids that write it's just becomes not all kids are talented at writing so I think for us to get involved in that I think it's the school administration for sure and per school potentially um
053and again the scholarship that we do have is I think it's separate so it would be difficult to figure out a prize for something like the school board level I don't really think it aligns as lovely as an idea as is with what we do. >> Anything else? >> Yeah. So, just uh Thank you. So, yeah, just um a little bit of a context, I guess, on some other essay contests. Um at least, uh in my experience, there's usually a lot of contests in the fall. Uh there are a lot of you know ones um from the Elks Club or from the AMV vets or from the Fleet Reserve Association organizations like that and usually you know the prompts will come out you know in uh September or August or usually sometimes a little earlier
054and the contest the essay uh sometimes you know they're essays sometimes there speech contests sometimes you know they have like an essay for middle schoolers a different topic for high schoolers and like a poster or a coloring project for elementary scores. So, it's all kind of the same contest, but there's different, you know, categories for uh each level and such. Um, but usually they're due in, you know, November or December. Um, and there's not not quite as many in in the spring. Uh, you know, the second half of the school year from January until the end, there usually aren't quite as many contests. Um, so I don't these are from, you know, external organizations. So, it would look a little different being hosted by the school. I uh to my knowledge there hasn't been an
055essay contest hosted just by the school. They've all been from other organizations, but I uh I do think it would be um it could go a lot of different ways and we'll see, you know, what uh what school administrators have have in mind, but I think it's a a cool idea that we could uh do a lot with. >> Thanks, Walker. Melissa, >> I was just thinking actually while he was talking, I was thinking about it, listening to him talking about so so much happening in the fall. Is this something that I mean, we are in 2026, so is this something that we could do since there's probably going to be some in the fall? Is this something that could be attacked this year, the end of this year, that opens it up to maybe
056another group that isn't going to be available or isn't going to be eligible in the fall. >> Yeah. >> So, that's just a just a thought. Um, >> when it goes to the in instructional team, it might just be something for us to think about um that that opens it up to a wider range of students. Judith, um I like what um Walker said about the three addressing the three grade levels. Um elementary with, you know, some kind of a poster. um um middle school with one topic and high school with a a more indepth kind of topic. Um I like that. And um is there any way that we could wait until fall to introduce this? I mean, I I didn't think that I didn't I all I knew was that whatever we did,
057if it was to be done this time, it had to be presented soon so that kids that that students could have time to gather their thoughts and apply or whatever they have, whatever is done. I just need they just needed time. All of the feedback and the ideas that are presented tonight are really helpful. I've been taking notes that I can share with the administrative team. I think it's um it's a few different facets. It would be alignment with curriculum. Um it would be our capacity to get that sort of thing off the ground. But I think some of the things that you're talking about may very well be doable. We just really need their input. Um what I would suggest is that we put it on our next administrative agenda. We can raise that
058um conversation. and I'll make sure that they're aware of the initiative that Jody introduced with the DOE. Um, essentially that is the the collective creation of a large-scale mosaic. So, main students are being invited to to do their own little piece of tile that then gets sent on and is part of a larger um sort of flag display is how I understand it. It may be that we can broaden it to more than just the eighth grade. There's lots of different ways that I think this could go, but it's really it's going to be important for us to um invite administrators to the conversation to make sure that it's manageable and it's successful and it produces a result that's beneficial to students and in alignment with our curriculum. So, I'm happy to bring that on
059and if we have questions or additional feedback or they'd like to see some level of board, you know, involvement in that process wherever it goes, I'll certainly be sure to circle back to folks and let you know. But appreciate this the ideas. Thank you. Any other further discussion or comments on that? That's all. Calendar and announcements are at the bottom of your agenda. Enjoy the week off next week. Um, and I will see you all back here for our next board meeting, which is February 25th. Have a good night. We're adjourned. 652.