001Good evening everyone. I'm going to call the August 13th school board meeting to order at 700 p.m. If everyone could please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance 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. >> Thank you. Roll call. Melissa Bacon excused. Carmen Barski. >> Suzanne Bower. >> Mark Cardzano >> here. >> Elizabeth Day >> here. Michelle Felicetti here. >> Anastasia Ferguson >> here. >> Eric Garrison. >> Jod Lane here. Jennifer Mayo >> here. >> Amy Morrison >> here. >> Wes Finny >> here. >> Adam Tangway excused. D Vigliata >> here. >> Judith Valent. >> Zoe Anthony. >> Walker Vivian >> here. >> We have a quorum with 13 directors present. I'm
002going to take a moment right now to welcome our new junior class student rep, Zoe Anthony. So, we're happy to have you here tonight, Zoe. Looking forward to hearing those student reports start back up in a couple of weeks. Um, I'd like to make a motion to make two adjustments to the agenda this evening. My first one would be to add an additional nomination under new business. So, it would be new business 1D. Um, this is for a fifth grade teacher at Alfred Elementary School, Eli Hammond. My second adjustment to the agenda would be to add an executive session to immediately follow the approval of the consent agenda uh to discuss a personnel matter pursuant to 1 MRSA4056A. So we have a motion and a second to approve those adjustments. Are there any questions or
003discussion on that? All in favor? All right. So we will do those. Thank you. So, next up, um, looking for a motion to accept the consent agenda. >> I make a motion we accept the consent agenda. >> We have a motion and a second. Anastasia Beth. Any discussion on the consent agenda? Questions, comments? All in favor? At this time, I'd like to make a motion to enter into executive session to discuss a personnel matter pursuant to 1 MRSA 4056A. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? All in favor? We are in executive session at 7:02 am. That's That's this. All right. Next up, public comment. Do we have any public comment this evening? >> All right. I will I will start with a very brief board chair report.
004Um if I can find it. I didn't take it. >> I had it. >> Sorry, guys. I had it. All right, we're going to wing it. >> I know. So, uh, first up on my board chair report, I want to recognize Wes Finny. Uh, because as of this month, he has been serving on the school board for three years. [Applause] I'm also going to recognize Jennifer Mayo who as of this month has been serving on the school board for 11 years. [Applause] Um, and I want to remind you all that there is uh the opening staff breakfast on Tuesday the 20 >> 6 uh over at the middle school uh that you are welcome to attend. I'm sure Dr. Marque can speak more to that. Um, but that's all I have for my board chair
005report and I will turn things over to Steve for the superintendent report. >> Yes. Um, yeah, the 26th in the morning uh will be over at the middle school. Uh, we'll have a a brief um comments to our returning staff and new staff. Uh, we're working on a uh tremendous young uh public speaker who might uh really be a inspirational kickoff for us. Um we're little inside pressure here and uh W Walker might be our uh part of our opening act. Um >> no. >> And then we'll recognize uh all of our staff with uh in groups 10 years, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35. And we also have someone that has just recently completed their 40th year. Wow. We have um small tokens of appre appreciation um which I think uh folks will appreciate. So
006that will be nice. And we continue to want to really brand our district and we were able to um buy some some really nice masses sweatshirts at a really reduced cost and mass quantity. You'll all be welcome to have one of those as well. Um, we really believe or I certainly do and I think you all do as well. When we get folks in Massabes gear, they really feel like in their modeling for our students and I always love seeing Walker in in Massabes gear as well. >> So, so you'll be getting a nice uh hooded sweatshirt, a green one. Um, and we also added um beyond the regular logo the um preparing um students for success in an everchanging world. Just to continue with that conversation, um want to share um the ESA um
007grant information update application deadline extended to 91 allocations title $264,253.11. I'll provide this to you. um that uh and then we have a net increase um between that and title 4 will be 67,96156. The total allocation from those grants will be 232,21467. That would be an addition um above last year's allocation of $9,18741. Um, want to share that uh, admin returned in in full this week for our admin week and uh, we kicked off Monday doing just a lot offormational items, all the various summer projects, hiring updates, um, a lot of logistics things with transportation, facilities, food service, technology. Um, so that was a really nice day for us to kind of come back together. We then yesterday um was absolutely a tremendous fun day. We had um five teams of five um in vans
008unless someone really didn't want to be in a van and they wanted to drive their Jeep or something. So we had three vans, a Jeep, and a Bronco. And we did a uh a scavenger hunt because we have so many people that could have worked in this district for years who really don't know the district. And then we have so many new people. So, we actually had a 146 item scavenger uh hunt by location and and a few actual tasks that were pretty funny, like a lost and found uh fashion show. We have some great videos from that. Um >> I have one of them. >> So, so uh just think about every place. So all of our schools obviously all of our town halls, all of our um fire stations, rescue locations, but then
009things like the ball fields where kids play and uh all the places where folks do business and uh apart from getting a photo of those locations, um they had to do uh collect artifacts from all of those locations. So, it was a really um humorous fun day and uh also celebrity um local celebrity photos. So, whenever we saw a parent or a staff member or a community member that folks knew uh the whole group had to do selfies with them. So, uh it was it was an absolute hoop. >> I can show you one of those. >> Um >> the team I was with I created the scavenger hunt. So, I really was more alone for the ride and a bunch of selfies and I sat in the third row which is not always easy
010getting in and out and in and out in and out really by the end of it like have to get chiropractor. Um that team drove 90 miles around our district. Another drove 82. So, um I think everyone left and we got to know people at a much deeper level. It was a really great day. Um today we did a lot of logistics um during our meetings earlier today talking about the the start of school and really the importance of trying to be mindful of all that teachers are accomplishing and uh so our first staff days next week well two weeks from now um there's going to be far more preparation for students communication with families logistical items but not meeting after meeting after meeting, but really getting rooms ready. Um we're going to be adjusting
011um the start day for all teachers on um the 28th. So they'll come in later and then they'll have they'll work their regular amount of hours, but they're going to have their open houses. So that's going to go I think quite well. One thing I didn't share about Monday, um Tiffany uh Twitchell, our new director of curriculum, um provided us with a really indepth review of all of what she's done already this summer. Um gave us a kind of a run through of the 24 different entry conversations she's had. um areas of relative strength that she has been noticing in the district, areas of relative need for um consideration and uh really did a deep dive on some of the academic achievement um through assessment results. So, uh I was sharing with um board chair
012Lane that we'll want her to come in maybe our second meeting um in September to give us a review of that data because I there are some areas of real um success I think over the last couple years and uh trying to look at that in a consistent format and uh so she's really guiding that work. Another thing that's been worked on a lot by her and really getting the admin team in as well on this is um the way we mentor teachers. So the work being done by Amanda and and Tiffany and the administrative team and the importance we've worked a lot on culture the last three years I'd say and um I firmly believe and I've shared with the board working on culture is really critical to our success because that when you
013get your culture in the correct places right the school climate in the correct place good things can happen and results improve. So, we're going to continue to worry about being soft on like our people skills and working with folks, but really ratchet up our expectations for academic achievement. Um, I think we're already seeing some gains in that area. But, it was a great last few days. I did tell all administrators I think it's critical for them to take a vacation day if they have the time on Friday just to kind of decompress. and tomorrow they have to get caught up on all the emails and things that they've missed out on because they've been in meetings or writing the roads. So that concludes my report. >> The kickoff will start at 8, but folks will
014start arriving earlier than that. So, >> it's always nice for you folks to be present if you're able to, but we know that you're you have lives as well and jobs and you uh you know, you're out a lot at night, you're at school events. Um but it's always nice to have you. But, um so that's why you'll always be invited. >> Yep. And if you can make it, that's great. It's always a really good time. Uh Mark, >> um just checking. I'm hoping you're going to we're going to have the um school reports early on as we did in >> Absolutely. Thank you. >> Yeah, that would be an addition. I think that's really critical for um us to hit the ground running with that kind of what what was it like? We talked
015a little bit today about the importance of that um first week with staff, providing them time to have good communications with families, inviting them to um by picking up the phone and calling, sending emails. Um really trying to get a good uh participation level on open house nights. And um our greatest challenge right now is there are just so many kids coming and going right now trying to level out the enrollment stuff. And we've also had uh like every place we are not the only district. People are jumping around right now um unlike anything I've seen. And I thought it was challenging last year and the year before. It's really revved up. I um had two resignations today for edtech positions. >> Yep. And uh so to follow up on that, Mark, uh Dr. Marque
016and I did speak briefly during our agenda meeting last week about getting um school reports follow up on last year, you know, a reminder of what the goals were, you know, where they came out at the end. Yep. And then um and then what we're looking at for this year. So it is getting worked into early in the fall. >> You got it. And we'll we'll also um likely would be the second meeting of September um your approval of um handbooks. Really those are more just ensuring that our policies have been updated in the handbooks. Yep. >> And then staff information in the handbooks >> and that's previously been done by the curriculum committee. So now it's going to come to the full boards. >> Yep. >> Oh Mark, >> I'm sorry. One more question.
017Are we ready to hit the ground running um with our no cell phone policy? >> Um yes, I do think it's still going to be a challenge. And um what's nice is there's so much uh support I think um moving in that direction um from state leadership. Um you guys know from me I think cell phones are the um were sold as like this great thing for education. I think it's the most challenging thing for education and students don't need the cell their cell phones for education if we're providing um onetoone devices. So high school believes they're fully prepared and we're willing to support them. But I'm thankful that you brought it up because you all might hear complaints mainly from the high school because it's middle school. It's the way it's been. Yeah. >>
018Um the high school we've had >> there are expectations, but it's going to take a lot of work on the part of uh high school administration and teachers and teachers being consistent in expectations and we believe they're ready for that. >> Great. >> Suzanne, um I've noticed a lot of transition of families too um moving away from Maine, coming in. So, just want to as a family that's moved a lot, just want to throw that out there to touch base of maybe having all the new students at the middle school and high school level gather together for a pizza party just so they can see who's new. Just want to throw that out there. It really helped my kids when we moved to Maryland. So, >> and and all the movement in the summer and
019every summer you have it. I think this one's a little more unique. I'm not sure exactly why. And it's really hard to budget when you have small elementary schools to to do that. And we talked about that today. We we sat myself and um all the elementary school principles and we went particularly we were looking at grades K and one and really some of the challenges that we see in K in particular. We have really large classes in some schools and really small classes in others. And uh so we're going to be looking at potentially um working with a few families to see if they wouldn't be opposed to shifting schools with a guarantee that their child could stay there for their entire elementary experience if it's easy to kind of root within our roots.
020That's just a common uh idea that could work for us. Yep. >> All right. Anything else? All right, next up, uh, standing committees. They have not started meeting yet. I will ask you all to stay briefly after we adjourn this evening, so you can select your committees. Um, normally I call a recess, but we'll just do it real quick. It will only take a couple minutes after I adjourn the meeting. That way, we don't do it in the middle. Uh, old business, we have none tonight. Uh, new business, so we have now four nominations. Jessica Johnson, eighth grade language arts teacher, Masbisc Middle School. Evan Brown, grade six science teacher, Masbisc Middle School. Shel Shelby Michaela, kindergarten teacher, Line School. And Eli Hammond, fifth grade teacher, Alfred Elementary School. I'd look for a motion to
021approve the nominations. >> Anastasia Suzanne, that was you. >> We have a motion and a second. Uh, any discussion? I have to abstain >> from one of the >> Yep. Um, we can separate it out if you want to. So, one, two, three, or four? One. Okay. So, let's do this if you guys are okay with it. We'll make a motion to approve the nomination for Jessica Johnson. Um, Anastasia, can you make that motion? And then we'll separate the others. >> Make a motion. We have heard Jessica Johnson, eighth grade language arts teaching middle school. >> All right. Oh, that that's okay. >> Any discussion on that one? All in favor? Opposed? Abstained. Perfect. So now we'll look to approve the other three nominations. Evan Brown, Shelby Michaela, Eli Hammond. >> Motion we approve. Who
022was the second? Beth was Beth. Anastasia and Beth. Any discussion on those nominations? All in favor? That one carries. So, those are good. Also, I want to mention I didn't miss anything on my board chair report even though I didn't have it in front of me. So, we're doing good. Next up, I'm going to make a motion to enter into executive session to discuss teacher negotiations pursuant to 1 MRSA 4056D. >> So motion your I motioned. >> I said so motioned. >> I motioned. So you second. >> Second. >> There we go. Any discussion? All in favor? We are in executive session at 7:39 We need to hold on a second to Are we back online? Colin, >> can you see if there's anyone out that can come back in? So, we are out of
023executive session. What is the direction of the board? >> I make a motion to accept the teacher negotiation CBA. >> We do have a motion and a second to accept the teachers uh CBA. Is there any discussion on that uh motion and second? All in favor? Opposed? That is unanimous. Motion carries. Calendar and announcements at the bottom of your agenda. Our next meeting is the 27th. Staff breakfast on the 26th. I'm going to ask you all to stay for five minutes after we adjourn to um do committee selection. That should not take long. But um other than that we are adjourned 8:35 p.m.