001You should get really close. Right here, Mr. Swallow. Welcome to the May tonight. He's going under the weather. We wish him well. So, please join me for a pledge of allegiance. Okay. So, we are um we are streaming tonight um on our own SAD15 web page. No, excuse me. YouTube SD15. where it says live or concurrent. So, uh upcoming meetings May 14th, we have personnel um in finance. That's at 5:30 and 6:30 respectively in the high school library. May 21st curriculum committee at 5:30. That will be Maggie. Where will we be? We will also be at the high school library. And then May 22nd, which is a Thursday in all caps because usually we do most of our work on Wednesdays. Um please join us for our annual town meeting budget validation at 6:30 in
002the high school cafeterium. Um one of our most important nights of the year. So we really do encourage everybody who's registered to vote in Glaster. And May 28th will be our policy committee at 5:30 in the library. Um From there, any action relative to additions or adjustments to the agenda? Great. Hearing none, we now invite any comments from the audience. I have some copies of my paper. If um you all want me to hand that out now or if you want me to wait, I can do whatever. Or my son also agreed to help pass out. Great. What is the what's the process? Um if your son wants to help, why don't we go ahead and let him do that? Henry both are what I'm gonna say and then I have a few additional submissions
003um just to let you know I'm here to talk um in support of the ASL uh language programs and unfortunately we weren't able to get an interpreter in time. So there might be someone popping up here at the last second that might be able to help uh some of our deaf and heart of hearing members in the audience here. So doing very basic for signing to see if I can help a little bit. Um Uh, so hi, my name is Laura Peterson. Yes. Start with mine, that one, and then you can do the next one. So, hi. These are my two boys. I'm Laura Peterson. I am a mom of these two guys that are students at the MSAD school system. Uh Henry is in sixth grade and Azie is in third grade. My youngest
004son Azie is deaf. He was born deaf and his first language was ASL or American Sign Language. So, our family is here tonight to ask you all to reconsider cutting the G&G high school uh American Sign Language program. I wanted to share just a little bit about my son and some of the experiences he's had. I know I have a time limit. I'm not sure what that is, but I appreciate your time. Um, students that have had the chance to be in a class or sports team with Azie get to experience something that's pretty special and at times even transformational. Their eyes are opened up to something wholly new, a way of communicating and engaging with the world. They're exposed to another kid with a different ability as opposed to disability. And um often they're
005really eager to learn more about ASL. They're engaged more in school. They're engaged uh with Azie. And even at the ages of eight and nine, he has many friends that say, "I want to be an interpreter when I grow up." Um, it's a very motivating language. This potential cut of course affects Azie and our family deeply, but would also impact the greater Glouster community. From a very practical standpoint, this ASL program is a direct path for students who wish to go on and become ASL interpreters, which clearly there is a great need for ASL interpreters. We would love to have one here tonight, but it was last minute request, so that's always tough. Um, you all know that this program is slated to be cut. In a sense, it's already been cut. kind of too
006little too late, but trying to show you all how important this is. Um, I think that we owe it to our current current students. Sorry. Um, it's a relief to see an interpreter here that's able to help out because As a mom of a kid who is deaf, you're often found trying to fill in those positions. Um, trying to play the interpreter, even though that's not what I really am, and I sometimes don't get to just be mom. Um, boy, I will say that over the past couple of days, I have started looking for signatures on a petition. Um, and again, I realize that some of these decisions have already sort of been made, but I think it's important that you all know how impactful this program is and how unique it is, how it
007makes our school stand out among others. And I think that's something we should all want for our district. We deserve, our students deserve our best efforts at trying to find a replacement teacher for the ASL program. Sorry, my words are all jumbled, but um that's the main reason that I understand uh why this program is being cut. And I just want to say that I will continue to collect signatures because I think it's important that you all see that there are a number of people in our community that this really means something to. This program is both deeply personally meaningful, but it's also a very practical program from a very practical standpoint. It's not just a language class. It is a bridge to an entire community, a vital career pathway, and an experience. Our current
008and future G&G students deserve the opportunity to access. We urge you to continue funding this important program. I don't know if anyone gets you to Thank you so much. Um, anyone else? Catherine Larson. I'm the ASL teacher high school and it has been a wonderful program and contacted me just a few days ago and it just reminded me hope I'm not emotal. remind when I first started teaching at Grand High School and her daughter was in the high school and I started it because her daughter was going to be in the high school and needed someone to to be there for her. I'm a teacher of the de as well as an American sign language teacher. And so because there were two de students in the high school, I started that American Sign Language program
009so that they would have peers that that could sign with them. and my heart just goes out to to a new student who's coming up through the ranks who won't have that opportunity. Right now, if there was a deaf student who came to our high school, there would be tons of kids who communicate, right? And they would have a signing community. And so it really touched my heart and it makes me emotional because now there's a new student And that is no longer. And so I I'm hopeful that the board will look at this and if it can't happen this year will consider if there start again. I just I have the question, you know, was there even an advertisement for it? Was it decided that nope, we're not going to do it because I
010don't know. I didn't look, I didn't see. I'm retiring. I started teaching in 1981. Thank you very much. And I have a grand and I'm ready to retire. I stayed this year because I had students that wanted to take so that it breaks my heart. It really does breaks my heart. So I'm hopeful that it can't happen on the horizon who needs to have that signing community for them. I've had I had a student last at to become an interpreter. Miss Larson, I I hate to stop you, but you're over three minutes now, so I'm gonna have to ask you to. I appreciate it. Good evening. Um, excuse me. My name is Ashley. This is my daughter Natalie. Um I hate Sorry. Could you let us know what town you're from? New Glouster. Okay. Thanks.
011No problem. Any other important info? I've never done this before. You can say hi. Hi. Um so I um I work at an ASL interpreting agency. I live in this Um, I have so there's so many topics about ASL that are important to me. I went to a high school. I learned ASL from that high school program. Could you just talk closer to the microphone? Sure. So, I went to a high school program at South Portland High, which is where I learned ASL about 22 years ago. Um, I'm a product of that program and I speak I think I speak to any student who went through that program. It has impacted um it has impacted my life. Um and I serve the deaf community every day. There are um October saw the worst mass tragedy
012that this state has seen. It ed the community beyond words. Um, there were people that responded to that incident that helped support nine death people. They were not professional interpreters. They were people that just knew ASL police officers, EMS workers. I cannot emphas that there are people that are going to be nurses. There are people Thanks. I hate public speaking. Um, there are people that you will meet every day in your life that know ASL and you'll never know it. You'll never know it. And they can show up to support any person that needs it. Um, how much time do I have left? You have one minute left. Oh my god. under. No, I I know it's but it it's so important. Um it's it's really important. Um so I know that you know ASL
013is not considered a foreign language. This was a topic back in 2003 when I was in high school. you will use ASL more than you will use French and Spanish in this entire state. Um, again, going to the grocery store and having someone just know barebones ASL is way more important than them knowing French or Spanish. You will meet people in your everyday life. It It happens all the time. You run into people all the time. Um, I I just I I I cannot emphasize enough that it's so important and and again, if it's not in the budget this year, great. Review it again. Review it every single year because people need language access. Period. Um, it is the last thing on people's minds. And again, you will you will encounter a death person at
014at least if not many times in your life. We have a small death community here in Maine. Um and so again, as a neighborhood that um borders, I I just so important for our students to know that. So good news, bad news, you made it. Thank you. Appreciate it. And uh do feel free folks. I know um public speaking can there I go. Public speaking can be difficult. it can be emotional. You're also free to email us at any time if you want to gather your thoughts um and reach out at schoolboards.org. That's always an option as well. Uh anybody else? All I did was all I did was hold a hand. So So I'm Lisa Penny. I live in New Glouester. I'm the parent of two daughters who are deaf. Um I have progressive
015hearing loss and I'm in the next five years gone. was my daughter's teacher. We moved to New Glouster so that she would have access to sign language in her class with with her peers. Um she's now my oldest daughter Sam who graduated in 2009 college. Um no 2009 from high school 2013 from college went on has a master's degree um and she was here in this district and it was supported. Um it can't it does not it should not be cut. Um there's other kids from this district who have gone on to become interpreters. Um kids who went to school with my daughter Sam and her best friend who is also named Sam. Um Henry is actually a graduate of college and he's here in support of this program as well. So please If it's
016too late for this year, please reconsider for next year because it is. It is. There's over 500,000 of us in the United States who are deaf. You wouldn't know it. You wouldn't know that if I go to the grocery store that I'm completely deaf with all the noise. I depend on interpret. I I depend on signing for most of my access. We're watching the interpreter right now. So, please consider reconsider. Thank you. Thank you. One sec. I should have asked this before. Um Chris, there's probably no way our interpreter is on camera. Okay, great. Thank you so much. Hi, I'm Cluck. I am currently at G&G High School. I'm a senior. I took ASL my freshman year and I recently found out that I am hard of hearing and I've started signing with my family
017at home because my dad is also starting to have hearing problems. Um, but ASL was introduced to me through this high school and it's been very important in my life ever since. So, please consider reintroducing the program in the future if not this year. Thank you. Anyone else for public comment? Um, hi. My name is Connor Hughes. I'm also a senior at Granny Foster High School right now. Um, I had the privilege of taking Spanish for my four years of high school, but I've had friends who have taken ASL and I work at Cumberland House of Pizza and we get deaf customers who come in all the time and my friends and co-workers have been able to use their skills at ASL that they have had at this school to be able to communicate and
018just interact with them and make them feel like a valued customer. So, I feel like that it is incredibly important to have the ASL program here at Grand Glouster High School because of that because it builds real world connections with other people who you wouldn't normally interact with and I think it's incredibly important. So, please reconsider if not this year in the future. Thank you. Thanks. Last chance at public comment. All right. Um, thank you very much. I appreciate that. I know it's a difficult setup in where you talk to us and we don't talk get to talk back to you, but um, all of your uh, thoughtful comments will be on our uh, streaming and be captured in our our minutes and um, be topics for us to suggest something. Um, I did a
019little research on the agenda or we can't we can't respond to the public. Correct. If anybody wants any information, please email me. I'll be glad to some information. So, moving on. Um, I would hear a motion to take action relative to accepting as printed the minutes of April 16th regular business meeting. So moved. Second. Anyone find anything in the minutes we need to look at? All in favor? Opposed? No. Got us all Maggie. All right. recognition. Dr. Turner gets to do the fun stuff. Get to do the fun stuff. Uh we have some awesome recognition, exciting stuff. Uh we are starting with our seniors who are graduating in the top 10%. Thank you guys for coming out on what as a parent of a senior I know is a very crazy time of year. So
020I appreciate that you all are here. Um, so I would love for you all. You don't, you know, have to give speech speeches, but we'd love for you to come up, introduce yourself. Um, if you want to share anything about what you're doing next year or, you know, just doesn't have to be long. I promise we don't bite. We would love for you all to come up, introduce yourselves to the community and to the board. Um, so that we can celebrate and congratulate you on your top 10% accomplishment. in whatever order you want. I'm not You can You can Doesn't have to be by actual class rank. Put themselves in order automatically. Go ahead, Izzy. Hi, my name is Izzy Morali. I'll be studying political science on the accelerated law pathway at the University of
021Southern Maine next year. And I'll also be playing basketball. Nice. Congratulations. We're gonna clap for all of you. We're dropping every time. Hi, I'm Lily Colby. I'm the saludiatoran and um I'm going to Uain Orno for civil engineering with like an environmental track next year. Nice. Well done. Hi, my name is Kaylee Wilkinson. I'm going to Boston University next year and my major is cell molecular biology and genetic specialization on a premed track. Wow. [Applause] Uh, hi. I'm Cecilia Rossi and I'm going to the University of New Hampshire to study medical microbiology and partake in the honors college. Congrats. Hey guys, I'm going to Bates College. My name is Cole Tibido. Uh, probably gonna major in either neuroscience or biology. Hopefully make a lot of money after. Yeah, thank you. Uh, hi, my name is
022Connor Hughes again. Uh, I am committed to the university man at Oro and I'm going to be studying marine sciences. [Applause] Hi, my name is Annie Reynolds. I'm going to Assumption University and majoring in political science. I will be also um participating in their track and field program as a thrower there. Congratulations. Hi, I'm Alera Cluck. I'm going to USM next year to study biology or biochemistry and I will also be participating on their track and field team as a thrower. Hi, I'm Cameron Meek. I'll be going to Oro for mechanical engineering. Hi, I'm Jacob Anderson. Um, I'll be going to Uain Orno for mechanical engineering. I'm hoping to have a focus in aerospace. Hi, I'm Megan Toro. I'm going to be going to the University of Maine Farmington. I'm going to be studying elementary
023education. [Applause] Hello. Um, I'm Laneie Farah. I'm going to be going to Hust University in the fall and I'll be majoring in nursing and participating in basketball. [Applause] Hi, I'm Avlyn Bowden. I'm going to St. Joseph's College of Maine for nursing and participating in alpine skiing. Hi. Hi. My name is Noah Johnson. I'm going to Main Maritime Academy for Marine Systems Engineering and I'll be participating in football. All right. Um, pretty impressive. There's some smart cookies in there. Pretty impressive. Amazing. Doing some exciting things. I think they all do an interpretive dance now, right? Believe there's some choreography. Thank you. Thank you so much, you guys. Congratulations. So, our next item is um to hear from our student editors of the Hartwood Arts and Literary Magazine. Um there was a fantastic um opening on Tuesday.
024That was just last night. It feels like um it was just last night. Um I was unfortunately not there. I was at my high school senior's last course concert. Um but I hear that it was just fantastic. So, I cannot wait. Uh, we wanted to make sure we also had an opportunity for them to share their work uh with the board. You want to read it right now? Thank you. So, introduce yourself. I'm Trevy. I'm Miss Pennington. Mary Pennington. Um, and we are part of the Hartwood Publishing team. Do you want to say that one? Sure. Okay. This is the ninth edition of Hartwood. published in 2017. Hartwood purpose is to celebrate and promote the creativity of students at G&G High School. This year, our books um in includes the work of 42 artists and
025authors with 71 pages in full color. We dedicated this year's edition um of Heartwood to Dr. Craig King um in recognition of his strong support for the arts um throughout his career. For the fourth year in a row, we have opted to choose one of artwork that is wrapped that wraps around the front and back of the of our book. Our cover artist this year, senior is senior Cecilia Rossi, right? Um this year's back cover writing is an excerpt from a longer work that you can find on page eight. Um, this author writes under a pseudonym um, and would like to remain anonymous, so we will let that stay a mystery. Last night at the publishing celebration, we had a great turnout. We were able to give copies to the book to Dr. King and
026our cover artist. We had several students get up and talk about their works and process, and we sold about 30 copies of the book. So, we hope you enjoyed looking through this year's copy of Heartley. Question for you. Um, folks, to see some of these pieces in person. What might opportunities might they have this week? Imagine that. We have an art show that is up and it's open to the public tomorrow from 4:00 to 7:00. And many of these pieces are hanging up in the art show in the ox gym at the high school. Um so yeah, come on by and check it out. Thank you. And if someone would want to get a copy of the Heartwood, we sell it there too at the art show. Come on down. Great. Any other questions? I
027will share I've gotten a number of text messages from Dr. King about how delighted he was about it. So, it was great. It was It was really a nice thing. So, thank you for doing that. Yeah. So, thank you. Thank you. Thank you, guys. And as we usually say at this point in the program, please don't feel you have to stay if you don't want to. You may exit at any time. We are not offended in the least. Um So, my third is a a little um kudos to John Stoultz. He's one of our bus drivers, bus driver trainer, also a parent of a senior here at G&G High School, I might add. Um and he competed uh recently at the regional conference and bus rodeo um where they uh it was at Katunk High
028School. It's where they um go through a course and and you have to do it very safely and then also you get points for doing it quickly, which Maggie and I have mixed feelings about, but he won the point. and it's very exciting. So, the most safe while also being efficient. Um, it's very exciting. So, he will be moving on to the statewide competition. Um, and just on a side note I feel I need to talk about, um, I went to the ultimate frisbee game the other night out at New Glaster Fairgrounds and when I pulled up, John Stoultz was like waist deep under the hood of the Mount Desert Island bus and there was an issue with a light. I think I'm not a car person so I only understood half of what they
029were telling me. Um, but they had put in a call to our um, mechanic Izzy, who was on her way home, who turned around, went back to the bus garage, got the part the bus needed, went out to the fairgrounds, put the part into this bus so that when they left at 9:00 that night to drive home to Mount Desert Island, they could do so safely. So, huge shout out to John and to Izzy for helping out another school district um, that was in need. So, aside and we'll give him a round of applause. We'll let you know how the competition goes. Does he get like a cool trophy? Oh, I don't know the answer to that. Does he get a trophy like already or just for the state? I'm gonna ask him and I
030will get back to you. These are important things we want to These are important things. We want to see the trophy. Fantastic. Um well, that was a nice round of uh recognition and really exciting to get to see those students live and in person. Um the board is um working to support. Um nice to be reminded of why we're here. So, moving on, old business. Um an update on federal funding. So, I shared um some of this information with all of you. Um that was just last month, right? The days are really squishing together. Um and I had kind of shared with you that, you know, it was my interpretation of sort of where we are. Um since then we have had a long meeting with a number of sort of powers that be at
031the department of education as well as the attorney general's office um as well as our own attorneys and a number of area school districts and they provided us with a little bit more guidance. It's not necessarily any new information other than it's a confirmation of of kind of what I already shared with you. Um so what I put in the um in the agenda is a uh priority notice frequently asked questions that came out from the department of education about this issue and then also a um list of questions that came out from the main superintendent association in cons in consultation with Drummond and Woodsome about kind of what the status is of our federal funding. So, um, even since this came out, there's been a decision in the USDA. Um, so of of sort
032of the three issues I shared with you last time, the USDA issue is now closed. Um, our federal funds will continue in that area. Uh, the one that they are currently, that one is is underway. Uh, that they will work that out in courts. We will have to watch, but it is uh very much still the case that federal funds flow from the feds to the state to local school districts. And so we are sort of have to sit back and watch and see what happens. Um so that's what we will do. At this point, no fund, no federal funds to our local school district have been cut off in any way, shape or form and we don't anticipate that that will happen at this point in time. Like I said last time, that is
033how things are right now and they change quickly. So when they do and if they do, I will let you know. Um but things really didn't change from the last time. I just have confirmation beyond my own interpretation um of of basically saying that our federal funds will continue and there is not necessarily anything we can do as a district to um change that. We have to let the feds and the state work it out. Questions that are likely unanswerable but anybody has about this. Okay, great. strong language. Um, new business, introduction of school resource officer Eric Sandborn, which we are super excited about. We are so excited to have Eric Sborn on board with us. Um, hey, I've invited him to introduce himself and talk a little bit about the work he's been doing
034and the big plans we have. The big plans. Yes, we have plans. Hi, I'm Eric. Um, Eric Sanborn. I'm a deputy with Cland County Sheriff's Department. Also, um, well, I'm your new school resource officer and I volunteered to come here. I wanted to be a school resource officer here. Um, people looked at me like, well, thank God someone volunteered because there's been a lot of officers that have come and, you know, I've been forced to come and be here. But, I just want you guys to know I'm here on my own accord. I'm really enjoying the first month or two that I've had at the school. The kids are great. Staff has been amazing. They've done everything they can to help me get settled. Um, and I'm excited. I'm excited to start next year because
035I only got, you know, the end end of of the school year. Kids are starting to warm up to me, which is nice. You know, it's kind of I was kind of nervous. You know, I'm I'm very outgoing person, but uh I was kind of nervous walking through the the hallway, you know, but uh everyone's starting to say hi, and it's been it's been really nice. Okay. Uh a little bit about me. I was born in Portland. Uh grew up in Standish, Seb Lake Village to be exact. Graduated from Bonnie Eagle. Don't hold that against me. Um I went into the Marine Corps 12 days after I graduated high school and I spent 24 years uh in the Marines. I retired in 2009. Uh after that, I'm going to step back a little bit. When
036I was younger, um a deputy uh named Jim Presca took me on a ride along. I was like 10 years old in Lake I always wanted to be a police officer. I always wanted to be a Marine as well because my father was a Marine. So he won. I went in the Marine Corps. Um but I always wanted to be a police officer. So after 24 years in the Marine Corps, still put that aside. Worked for the Department of the Navy for six years. I also worked for Sakorski helicopters um as aircraft mechanic while I was in the Marine Corps and I continued on with that work. Um my wife and I who grew up together in Stish um lived in Pennsylvania time. We decided when our youngest graduated high school, we were going to
037pack things up and come back home. That's where all of our family was here in Maine. So, that's what we did. U much to my youngest chagrin. She got her cap and gown. It was a uh real estate sign being tapped into the front yard of Pennsylvania. And she's like, "Oh my god, you guys are really doing this." Yes, we did. Uh about a month later, we're we're back in Maine. And uh I started my law enforcement career late in life. Um I was the oldest in the academy in my class. Um but uh I showed those youngsters a thing or two. And I've been I've been a police officer for six years. Um so um I had applied to be SRO because I I enjoy talking to kids. I think it's a very important
038part of um well it's very important these days especially for the young kids that are out there be able to talk to them see them mentor them if you can uh because in my since I become a police officer one one thing that it's unfortunate thing that we get to see a lot of is the things at home we come into a house we see these young kids and some things that uh going on behind doors that not a lot of people know or see and that's what we unfortunately have to deal with on a regular basis. Um some of these kids don't have mentors. They don't have people that they can talk to or trust and I want to be that person at school. Um and I, you know, in high school I was
039like all about everyone. I had friends in, you know, the not so good kids. I had friends that were really good kids. I did theater. I was a thespian. Yes, I said I'm a Thespian. Uh, for those of you that know what a thespian is. Okay. All right. So, don't tell that to the theater. So, um, I also was in chorus. I acted, did all kind of fun stuff. Um, and, uh, I just I'm excited. I really am. I think the kids are um, I've been very open to talking to me and I just want to, you know, do more next year. I'm looking forward to starting off fresh with them. So, yeah, it's a little bit about me. if anyone has any questions. I go ahead. Yeah. Uh thank you for that. Um could
040you talk a little bit about um I know you you know looking forward to next year. What is for those of us who don't know what does that day look like? Where are you spending your time? What you know what's the the split among the schools? What are sort of the things that are in your scope not in your scope? Um very good question. I've been trying for this last month and a half to figure out my schedule. Um, I've been trying to get out to every school daily, if not daily, every other day. Uh, my priority is the high school uh in the middle school. However, um, I've been over here. I I usually come over here a couple three times a week, all the schools, all the grade schools. Um, and and the
041middle school as well. Um, just walking the halls, letting the kids see me. Um, trying to get them comfortable seeing me u is my priority. Obviously, taking care of the and security of the school is is my top priority. But um being being part of their day is is is another important aspect of my job. Uh but I'm still learning what I need to do and how I need to um spread myself out. It's going to be hard with five schools, but I'm going to make sure that I'm on the road out as often as I can. Thank you. Uh questions. Just welcome. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for having me. I think something that's worked out nicely, I mean, we wouldn't have planned it this way, but something that's worked out
042nicely is Eric has had the time to, he has been out at all five schools. He's been doing some safety drills with some of our schools here before school gets out. And so now, you know, I plot myself down in his office. I think that was yesterday. And said, "So, let's talk about revamping our safety plans next year. What do you think?" And so, he's had this opportunity to kind of see how they work and start to kind of assess where we have some strengths and where we need some work done. he's going to come to admin team next week. We're going to start talking about what those plans might look like either, you know, so that when we come back at in the fall, I feel like we're going to have a pretty strong
043plan um to do some forward momentum work, which just feels really good. If he had kind of started with us in the new year, he would have needed some time to get his feet under him. And so, it's been kind of nice to have this time where he can learn our schools and we can get prepared now for doing some really great work in the fall. So, I'm excited. Um thank you and welcome. um hopefully stay around for a really long time. That was one of the big conversations we've had as a board is having somebody in your position have longevity here because that relationship is the most important to us that our students have that with you. So hopefully you decide to stay for a long time. Yep. I I plan on it. Great.
044You must have done a good job introducing yourself. this uh this position's been um a hot topic, but I think one that we um would really like to see someone uh such as yourself in the position who actually wants that relationship with the schools. Um so I'm very excited to have you on board. Thank you. I'm also a ski patroller at Pleasant Mountain. Throw that out there, too. I knew I recognized I'm on the I'm an instructor at Pleasant. Oh yeah. Okay. Here we go. Did he see you take your your dive on your back? What's that? Did was he there when you took your big crash? I think he might have been around when I broke my back. Yeah. When when the day after Christmas? I might have been. Yeah, I think I remember
045your face. Yeah. No, I don't know if I I don't think I was on scene. I would have remembered that. I would remember that. But it was down in the lodge. I I'll get I'll get the info later. I'm glad you're okay. But thank you all. I appreciate your time. Thank you. Appreciate your time. You know where I'm at. So great. Right. Moving on. Uh Um, I'd love to hear some nominations for contracts. I move that we nominate uh for a second probationary contract the set of teachers who are listed in our agenda. Second questions or discussion on that motion? Any contacts for us, Dr. Turner, other than we're very excited to have this happen. Very excited. Yeah. So, these are folks that are completing their first year with us and that we believe um
046are worthwhile to come back. They're doing a fantastic job. Um we we've got a really great crew here. Great. All in favor? Right. Opposed. I would like to nominate I would like to move that we approve the following teachers listed in the agenda for a continuing contract. Second discussion um Dr. Turner, do you want to describe what a continuing contract is versus probationary? So under uh main state law, school districts uh can employ teachers. Um their first two years are probationary, which under the law means that we um do not we can renew them or non-renew them. We can non-renew them. That means not bring them back um for any reason or no reason. That doesn't really totally work out that way, but but essentially it's those first two years to make sure that this
047is someone that we think is going to do a really good job for our schools. So, we have two years to make that decision. At the end of the second year, we have to offer um those folks a continuing contract if they are going to continue to be employed with us. And continuing contract then puts them um at a new level of um I'm going to use the word protection, but that's maybe not the best word. Um if we were to have a reduction in force, um it is always probationary folks that kind of go first. This puts them um into continuing contract status, which means they work for us. If we um at any time want them not to, we either have to do that through a reduction in force um process or the
048um bar that we have to show in order to have them no longer employed with us becomes very high. So up until they are continuing contract, we have a little more flexibility in not having someone back. Once they are continuing contract, um the bar becomes pretty high. So whenever we bring some folks to you um to nominate them for continuing contract, we do not do so lightly. Uh we take it very seriously. Every one of these people have had um extensive formal and informal observations, meetings, mentors to make sure that these are folks that we want to bring on um to our district for the long term. Thanks. Does that trigger any questions or discussion? Great. Um anybody the we could have the teaching statuses. Let me think about that. So potentially um so the
049challenge is if we if if in the motion the position that they're in is included, it locks us into the type of contract we're giving them and we lose some of our flexibility potentially to move them around. which is why whenever um sort of legal advice gives us how we word them, we nominate them to the teacher contract. Um whenever we add in a specific position um we could potentially inadvertently lose our flexibility to move that person to a different position. However, we could in the future consider an addendum to such proposals that would tell you what those folks roles are, but I wouldn't want it in the motion in the in the agenda itself. Does that make sense? For um illustrative purposes, could you generally speak to the depth and breadth of the wonderful
050types of things these folks do? This is like a quiz here. Uh we have we have speech therapists in this list. We have um our uh BCBA, and if you're going to ask me what BCBA stands for, I am not going to be able to come up with it on the spot. Um but that was a position we added a number of years ago. uh world language. We have um uh we have some special education teachers. We have school counselors. We have I can't remember if I said speech therapist. I want to say it again. Uh we have OT's. We have music teachers. And then we have um some classroom teachers as well. Great. Thank you. Is that somewhat helpful, Fran, to hear? Okay. All right. All in favor? opposed. Okay. Thank uh next up,
051athletic job descriptions. I move we approve the middle school outdoor track and first team volleyball, high school job descriptions as presented in our materials. Second. All right. Uh discussion. Do you want to say anything about this from the personnel perspective? Is that where these were born? Do I want to? Come on. Your time is limited. Take take advantage. I was trying to go out without saying anything this evening. Don't believe you. These were new ones if I remember correctly. Correct. There's really not much to say other than we added them in there only because like first team volleyball high school is a new uh program because of the enrollment in the program and then the middle school outdoor track we never had. So here we go. Great. Thank you. Uh questions or discussion? So, for
052the uh middle school outdoor track coach 13, I just wanted to know if um that complies with our insurance um that we have to report within 24 hours. Um there are a number of different guidances that would um require us to report within that time frame of which insurance is one of them. It's insurance purposes. It's also there's sort of like it aligns with our workman's comp procedures. It's it's part of our procedures um to cover us in a number of different ways. It also aligns with our policies around around such things. So the insurance companies want at least 24 hours or less. Yeah. So I I think I think you're digging a little deep into it. I think what this is uh on 13 this is for the athletic uh the coach needs to
053report to the athletic director. I don't think we can't really I mean I don't know what that answer is right now but for this policy or for this is it's for the coach. So as long as the coach uh reports to the athletic director does that make sense? Yeah. Well, just, you know, standard industry, you have a certain amount of time before you have to report something to an insurance company. Any kind of No, no. And I agree. That's just not that just wouldn't be in the job description because that's beyond the coach. This is for the coach only. That would be for something for the district to order. Yeah, I know. I wasn't looking to add anything. That was question that popped up in my head and said, "Well, wait a minute. Are we
054in compiance?" That's all you know what they just said. What do they say? I know what my insurance company says. So I would say short answer is we are in compliance. Longer answer is um we because our insurance is related more to liability than just personal injury. Um we can't we if someone were to come to us months after an injury were to happen even if they hadn't reported it before we would still have some level of responsibility and our insurance would still need to to cover that. So the 24 hours is really more about our internal procedures related to than it is an insurance requirement. Yeah. Other questions? Yeah, I got a comment. Um the middle school u outdoor track and the uh the volleyball program. I find it a little disheartening that we're
055funding that but not ESL. I know it's a little out of character for me to to to say that, but uh you know what happens between kids getting up and when that last uh class bell rings is a little more important than what happens after that. And I just uh I've been in I mean I was in a program I was in a high high school that was nearly twice the size of this high school and we didn't have either of those things but we but ESL programs were around and my wife worked in Ncomomas which is 48 Newport area and when they had they were one of the few places that had ESL and it does make a big and somebody from out of town shows up and they don't know how to order
056through the drive-thru or get gas at Irving and there's somebody there that can help them. It makes a big impression on a little disappointing priorities. I would just say that we've heard in our budget presentations that we are not eliminating the ASL position uh out of a you know monetary concern. It's that we couldn't find anybody to fill the role and that we didn't want to make promises to our students that we couldn't keep in this budget environment and also we could add roughly 25 of these positions and that would add up to one ASL teacher. So I just not sure it's really a equivalent Wednesday discussion. I also just do want to say um I appreciate the you bringing it up, Jim. Um and Sam's answer is really only part of what um we
057have discussed and how that decision can be reached. I do want to say that the motion on the table is about middle school outdoor track and volleyball team. So I just want us to be a little careful, a little mindful about how we're um getting getting I think at the core of I think it the core of comment is a question about how Does this impact the budget perhaps? And so if you wouldn't mind, I will just speak to that quickly. Sure. Um this is not a budget ad. Um this as part of our co-curricular presentation, you may recall that we talked about how we um we carry a certain number of siphons that have been approved by the board that these positions exist and that we approve a job description for. And based on
058student interest, we fill them or we don't fill them in any given year. So part of bringing these particular job descriptions forward, we're bringing them forward because we're seeing programs that are overly full. And what we what we will then do is not um not fill positions that uh for clubs or athletics where we are seeing declining enrollment. So these job descriptions are an ad to the cadre of co-curriculars that we can make available to kids but it is not an increase in our budget. So those these they're two separate pieces. Right. Right. So to to repeat that for my own self out loud and to be clear for folks, this is us much like we go through the policies reviewing and making sure we have the right job descriptions. It's not necessarily an automatic
059reflection of what's in the budget or what is staffed. Yes. And these are these are two new job descriptions because they are co-curriculars we have not had in the past that we do have. But we are hoping to potentially have in the future. Uh, anyone else on this current motion? All right. All in favor? Thank you. Opposed? Um, and now a series of job descriptions for special services. I move that we approve the special services related job descriptions that were presented to us in our meeting. Second discussion anything you want to say about job descriptions? No, but he will miss them. All right. All in favor. I'm sorry. Actually, you can't. I know. It's very rigid. No worries. It's replaced. Just one replacing the other. Um, I would hear a motion on the uh main
060paid family medical leave. So, I was going to ask you what you wanted to do on a motion of this. Uh, do we want to talk about it before we make a motion because we're Well, no. So, I move that we uh approve uh the private plan. Oh, I got to say this whole thing. I move that the district provide paid family medical leave through a private plan with the insurance contract issued by the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America as negotiated by the MSM AI to provide PFML coverage to all MSAD 15 employees pursuant to 26M subsection 850-H in substitution of the participating in the main paid family medical leave program. Second. Good job. No one has made that more exciting. Um uh as we open discussion on this, I would invite Dr. Turner
061to um help us understand this request. Absolutely. So, as we have spoken with you over the years, the paid family medical leave law um went into place that requires that um employers and employees uh together put a total of 1% or put aside that Okay, no, let me back up because now I'm confusing. So, the paid family medical leave act states that we must provide paid leave for staff for medical leave reasons. And so um the you can opt to go through the state program or you can opt to go through a private provider. Up until this point we have opted to go through the state plan um because there weren't really any great private providers that we uh felt comfortable with. Um under the state plan you have to put in 1% of the
062employees salary. um that can come for up to half a half from the employee and half from the employer. The one exception was if you had a collective bargaining agreement currently in place, you could delay it a little bit. So for us, starting in um the current school year, we had to start um collecting from employees and putting in ourselves uh 1% of that person. So half came from the from the district, half came from the employee to sort of put into um a state fund that would then be used to pay folks to um be on family leave potentially once the program goes into place. So that started collecting in the current school year and starting um I believe it's April of next year. Yep. Okay, David's nodding. I appreciate it. um April of
0632026 is when people can start applying for and using that program. So with this private provider through MSMA coming forward, it gives us an opportunity to um work a little bit differently. And so because this private provider would be paying out directly, they've looked at um our school district as well as some area school districts and they're saying that they wouldn't need a full 1% from us. They would only need 98% of us to appropriately fund a program. So I know it's only 0.02% but I will take every 0.02% I can get. Um so first of all it's only 0.98% we would have to put in instead of one. The bigger piece is because this is an established insurance agency. They don't have to build up the savings account to be able to start paying
064out for this program. And so what that would mean is that once we sign on board, we would immediately stop paying the state that half a percent that's coming from us and employees would get that half a percent back in their paycheck from here until next April. So that sort of pre-collection that we're doing right now as we speak would stop and we wouldn't have to start again until next April. It would be about an $80,000 savings in the coming year's budget. You may recall I brought this up uh when we were talking about health insurance in our last meeting because health insurance is going to cost about 80,000 more than we thought it was going to and we opted not to put up the bottom line budget ask because we were kind of anticipating
065we might be able to have some savings um through this opportunity. So, we're very glad that that came through um because it's saving our necks a little bit on the on the health insurance piece. So, but as part of that process, the board does have to vote um to allow us to use the private provider. Um and then we would move forward in developing our contract. Um the the private provider does have to have a certain number of school districts in order for this to be viable. And I I can't tell you specifically what that number is because it sort of depends on how big we are. It really is actually how many employees are in the pool. Um so like a Portland coming on board makes a big difference versus you know a Mount
066Desert Island coming on board might not have quite the same impact. So, um we are are looking for board action at this time. We're asking you to approve that so that we can then move forward. We would negotiate um assuming enough other districts come on board, we would move forward with the plan. Great. Discussion questions. So, what happens to the we've already given the state. Yeah, we lo we we are not able to get that money back for the for the employee or for ourselves. Okay. So for the private it says 13 month exception for the same period of time they also had an exception they had not been employees who uh contracts something correct. So so um any collective bargaining agreement that was in place um at the time so for us that's our
067teacher union contract. So, our teacher, so anyone employed under the teacher contract does not have a half a percent coming out and we have not been having to pay the half a percent. Um, and that stays in place until the end of that bargaining unit agreement. Um, so that why doesn't that show in that top line then for the state zero or a portion? Because only a portion of our employees are under the teacher contract. All of the all of the support union and all of the bargaining folks we have to start paying on. We had to start paying on immediately. Did this go to bid for the private or did you just This is the one who volunteered to do it the So um main school management association went out to private providers to
068try to um find someone who would be willing to come on board in a way that made sense and was useful for school districts. And one last question I guess um But uh is this going to be subject to change every year obviously right potentially yes and so what's the benefit going um the private going higher than the state you know would that happen so are you saying what would happen if the state if the percent that the private company was asking for us increased to what the state would want um I I would um so I don't know however ever. I would say that that's probably not in their best interest because then we would all jump ship and go back to the state. A and I would also add that 1% that the
069state is also able to change if they end up um having to pay out more than they're collecting. They can they do have the opportunity to increase that 1% to a higher number as well and in theory lower, but in theory lower. I guess that kind of leads me to another question then. So going with the private company, are they obviously they're not going to hold a promise, but are they basically saying that 98% they can fund this program right away for our employees potentially that not increase at all through um March 31st, 2028? And the 1% for the state at this time is only guaranteed through 123127. Anyone else? Uh I guess I have to say it out loud. Um you know I just uh I think fundamentally if we're taking public knowublic and
070we're going to use them to solve this problem, which is how we, you know, provide this paid family medical leave. I would rather that money stay in the public arena and go up to the state and, you know, potentially be able to get our money back rather than contract with someone who's going to profit off of people's misfortunes. So, I am going to vote despite it. Um, sorry, I also want to add that there is um legislation currently being proposed that would exempt schools from the paid family medical leave act requirements. If that were to move forward, all of this would go both our private the private um the private company is aware of that and that you know we would all clearly pull out because um we wouldn't be required to do it in
071this way anymore. So if that legislation comes up and it I'll let you know but um that has not come to come to the floor yet. So, um I guess Sam's kind of triggering the thought. Um this is a brand new program, right? Guardian. Um so, we're kind of gambling that, you know, they did all the calculations correctly and that's all the school districts and we're um taking public money and putting it into a private company, so to speak. So, I don't know what the safe guides are, you know, the school district. I mean, I don't you have to talk about those things. I'm not saying it's going to happen. I'm just saying we should be discussing that and help make that decision. Anyone else? Um, I suppose um I'm a little squeamish. Um $80,000
072is a lot of money. Um whether the private insurance company or the state, neither of which I would hold in the absolute highest of regard at this point. Um and that is the kind of money that funds a teacher and these are the kind of tough decisions we're making. So, um I'm on board for that. Um anyone else want to weigh in? Right. Cole. Yeah. I'll just simply say um I think we'd have a lot better chance of getting our money back through a private vendor to happen. I'm sure there'd be a class action which we would jump on board and we probably get back in the state. Anyone else? All right. All in favor? Gotcha. You got us. All right. Oppos. Okay. Um, so we will go with the private plan. Please keep us
073please keep us posted. I will keep you posted. Absolutely. All right. Um, now uh something coming in. Great. I move we accept a donation of chairs for the Dun School with an estimated value of $3,200 from the Pathway Vineyard Church. Second discussion uh context for the folded chair. Uh context the Pathway Vineyard Church um you through our facilities uh use policy uses um runs this facility here uh every week. Every week. It's not always every week, but it's close. Um, and they uh use our chairs that maybe aren't the most comfortable, you all know from sitting here for a couple hours. So, they have asked if they could purchase some more comfortable cushioned folding chairs and donate them to the school so that they could use them for their um for for their purposes. And
074then we as a school would also be allowed to use them for our purposes, whether that is if we do decide to have our board meetings here uh more regularly or um that we have here. Um, and the value is such that it requires board action to accept that donation. So, um, the church would purchase the chairs, but then they would they would be owned and maintained by the school district. Oh, what color are they? I I don't know that part. I mean, look at our colors. I mean, let's not be purple because they don't match. Uh, sounds like they're going to be beige, folks. Um, maybe maybe we don't know. Are we asking for an amendment to that motion or No, just it doesn't say color. We're we're gonna we're gonna take them. Absolutely.
075All right. Um, say but if we have a say in the color, Maggie, that's all I'm saying. Um, I am uh getting a very important connection sign from a member of the audience who I think routinely sits in these chairs. So, that's all I need to see. Uh, Any further comments, questions? All right. All in favor of accepting the donation. Great. Opposed. Wonderful. Thank you. Um to the Pathway Vineyard Church. Sounds like that will be mutually beneficial. And now I am remembering why Gary is staying home sick tonight. He is trying to avoid all of these very particular motions. Uh, sure. I guess uh I will make a motion that we uh require the budget articles for the district budget uh referendum meeting be written up in closed format so that the articles can be
076amended down but cannot be amended up. Second discussion on that. For uh folks uh watching alone at home or in the audience, do you want to give us a a description of what it means to be able to amend something what that means? So um in our budget referendum meeting as we bring each article up uh there is an opportunity for public comment and people can make motions to um change uh change what's being proposed. And so uh as a you would ch you would choose to do those articles as opened or closed. When they are open, it is a um freefor-all is the word I'm going to use. Whereas if they're closed, um you it it limits a little bit more what can happen on the floor. Um as the motion states, those articles
077individually then can be amended down. So people could make proposals to reduce it, but they could not make um amendments to increase it. You uh discussion. All right. All in favor? Great. So, we will do the closed format. And now we need some warrants. I move that the warrant for the main school administrative district 15 aka the district budget meeting be approved and that a district budget meeting be called for May 22nd 2025 for the purpose of voting on the annual budget for the district for the 2025 2026 fiscal year. Second discussion. All in favor? You do want us to sign all at the end. Yeah. Why don't we sign at the end? No one can leave until you have signed. I'm just reminding everybody, don't go in. Lock the door. Actually, just won't adjourn
078the meeting till everyone signs. We'll do at the end. All right. Uh, number three, I move that the warrant and notice of election for the district budget validation referendum be approved and that a district budget validation referendum be called for June 10, 2025 for the purpose of approving the budget adopted at the district budget meeting just referenced for the 2025 2026 fiscal year. Second. Any discussion on that? That date's pretty set. Oh, Fran, I I do. It's not to add or subtract from this. Um, but I was thinking about the format of the validation meeting itself. And uh I'd like to uh suggest that we have um all non resident or non voting people off to one side and all the voters in another section. We used to run those meetings like that. So that
079would be the the previous motion, but there's no other place to put this question. Previous motion. I can't see any other place to put it. That So the motion on the table is for June 10th. But to be clear, you're making a suggestion on how we structure the validation. Can you shoot me an email with that idea in it? You send me an email with that idea on it. Yeah, we'll take great. Yeah. Um and Dr. attorney is suggesting we usually do it that way. So, we we usually have all of the non- voting staff members off to one side at a table or in a group, but we could make that more obvious if it's helpful. Okay, great. When you see the clump of people who aren't putting their hands up, that's us. Um,
080but do shoot me an email so I remember. Okay. All right. So, on this uh motion about the date of the June 10th referendum, any discussion on that further? Great. All in favor? Perfect. Any opposed? See you at the polls on June 10th. All right. More. I move that the notice of amounts adopted at budget meeting be approved and that the superintendent of schools of the district be authorized and directed to complete said notice in accordance with the district budget meeting on May 22nd, 2025 and to cause copies of said notice as completed to be delivered to the municipal clerks of each municipality of the district for posting at the polling places for the June 10, 2025 district budget validation referendum. Second discussion, questions on this. Nothing we have to do. All right. All in
081favor? Great. So, well done. Thank you, Sam, for the heartfelt moving readings of those assorted. Uh, do what I can. Committee reports. We would love to hear from facilities. Uh sir microphone sir. So facilities met for the final time this year. Uh Dr. Turner began giving us an update regarding the state's current process when considering funding uh large scale products projects. Um it is anticipated that uh student population may influence the state's uh favorability and funding uh facility around square footage. Um the committee talked about how this may influence our long long-term strategic plan. Um we spoke about our sidewalk project. Um the district has met with the town um open lines of communication. Uh we've sent out or the town sent out environmental assessment is being done this week. Uh waiting to hear back.
082Uh David presented us an updated list of potential capital improvements. Uh committee felt that a lot of those would be good use of funds and the funds that we're pulling from our capital reserve. Uh heard an update on the last few outstanding projects around Russell school and the high school. floors and doors being fixed and replaced. Uh looking to get started like within a few days of school letting out. Um getting regular bi-weekly updates on our air quality project, looking to get a little more detail out of those um as we as the project officially kicks off. And then we ended with kind of a reflection of the committee and its work throughout the year. questions. Yeah, I have one question. What's the status of the federal project for the pedestrian signal? Uh right now
083we have a they're finishing their environmental assessment this week. So that will influence the engineering that the town has force We'll see that all the concerns that we the district had around the project were already on kind of the town's radar. So that was anyone else? All right. Thank you. Um, finance committee. Gary is not here tonight. Um, the minutes from the finance committee are in everybody's packet. I apologize. I was there. I could have been a little more discussed everything because we've t we've met since the finance committee has met as part of the budget process. There isn't anything new that we haven't already discussed. Thank you, Sharon. I'm glad we invited you tonight. That was awesome. Where I can um perfect personnel. Um I believe this will be our last committee report from
084Cole or we have one more. No, I think this is going to be it. Oh, wait. Yes, he will be here to report out in June. I have a cold coming on in two weeks. Yeah. So, uh we basically talked about everything u earlier uh in the meeting about everything that we did in this past personnel meeting. The only thing I'll mention is one of the big things that we discussed is the formatting of our policies. Um whether they're or whether they've been on the books for a long time. Uh we discuss the importance of just making sure they're all formatted the same way. So it's always job descriptions or policies. I'm sorry. Did I say policies? Yeah, I descriptions. Yes, that's the biggest thing I can offer on this. All right. Questions for Cole?
085Make them detailed and painful. No. Sorry. All right. uh curriculum uh due the vacation week. All right. Policy. Yeah. Uh policy. We reviewed um a number of uh policies as part of our regular uh making sure that things don't sit around too long. We reviewed the JLFA child sexual abuse and prevention response policy just on our schedule. Uh Dr. Turner reviewed it with the admin team. They didn't see any needs for uh adjustments and so we did not make any. Uh similarly, there's a neglect report form that goes with that policy. We reviewed that to make sure it was still good. Uh it is still good. Um we then looked at policy IHP which is the grievance procedure for persons with disabilities. Again, on the review schedule, um there's a note to make sure that
086we have it in large print and audio versions so that people with various different abilities can access them. Um then we had a discussion uh kind of a one-year review of uh the KF policy, which is our uh community use of the school facilities and KFR, which is the administrative procedure. Uh that was something that we adjusted last spring. We wanted to make sure that it was still sort of uh serving the community as uh we intended and admin reported that it was working very well. Uh the small fee adjustments that we made uh have been well received and you know there's really other other than us having facilities that are very much in demand uh there's you know nobody is uh complaining about that policy. Um, and then finally, we had a brief discussion
087about the visitors to schools policy, make sure that it was being followed. Um, and we scheduled it for review against MSMA policy at our next meeting. Also on the agenda at our next meeting will be a review of the fundraising policy, which I know is among the favorite policies that we have on the books here at the district. So, if anybody would like to join us at our next policy meeting, um please feel free to do so. Questions? That meeting is at 5:30 p.m. on May 28th at the high school library. Great. Um any else? All right. Thank you, committee chairs. Uh, for my school board chair report, apologies, today was bananas, and I didn't write up anything in email ahead of time, but I do have a couple of quick things. Um, all of
088the committees have been asked to do some endofear reflections um at their final meetings of the year. Um if folks have uh thoughts or notes from those that they'd be willing to share with me um ahead of our June meeting, I would love to also have on the agenda to us have a sort of broader check-in on how uh things we have accomplished as a board that went well. Um things that we want to look um forward to or at least recommend um perhaps the next fiscal year's board be thinking about. Um I attended a meeting with the um auditors today. Um not to be confused with the audit report we're still waiting on. Um so I met uh regarding the audit for the current year. Um that starts now. Auditors are on site for
089a few days um doing some uh work. They will then return in August to finish that work. Um This is just a a regular interview. I did get a nice update while I met with them about our audit we're waiting on from last year, which has now been reviewed, sent back from our end, I believe, with very few notes. Um, and so the auditor assured me we would likely see that next week. I told him that would be really great and uh make it snappy. So, and they are scheduled to be at our next business meeting. Uh, and they are scheduled to show up. So that should help them be timely. Um so we'll be able to hear some more details. I will steal their thunder a little bit and there were no u major
090findings which is nice to hear. So we'll get some more details on that. Um the legal and government type affairs at the state level and federal particularly at the state level right now is is extremely busy. Um I just wanted to remind everyone to be looking in their inbox. Does everyone get the weekly brief from MSBA, MSSA? Um Uh, I'm finding that really informative and shows like just the tremendous amount of bills that are constantly moving through that um have a significant likelihood of impacting the work we do here at the district. So, I do encourage folks to be um keeping an eye on that. And then finally, graduation. I know I've been beating this drum, but it is upon us on uh upcoming Friday, May 30th. It is at 5:00 at the Cross Insurance
091Arena. I will be very much uh hoping to see strong board attendance there to honor the kids that have worked so hard to get through this and accept their diplomas. Um we generally have very nice seating on the floor of the um the space and there is plenty of it. So, for folks here who may have a special interest in this year's graduation, um due to some bright young scholars, uh if you want to see me, we will make sure to have plenty of room for any of your family that's attending down with us as well if you would like to take advantage of that. Usually we get cute um invitations from the student council. So let them know that I noticed and was looking forward to Wow. Maybe they have something better to do
092than come up with little fancy invitations for you. I don't know. We usually get I did I did think about that too penny. I was like oh I wonder if we're going to get our invitations usually does bring you maybe if more people showed up last year we would have gotten invitations this year. So, it is IV testing this this week and next week. It is. It's all um I I I mentioned it only because um I'm being sassy, but also it did have a it did have a space for us to RSVP to who was coming and so if there's someone that um I can be in touch with, I'm happy to coordinate on who's coming from the board. So, I don't know who that if that's Satie or but we'll figure that out.
093Well, yes, I will follow. And that is it for me. Superintendent reports. Okay. Uh, we have a new hire. April Bartley Loftess has been hired to be a van driver. And, um, if we could just note for the minutes, uh, Miss Bartley Loftess' name is spelled wrong. Um, it should be a U instead of an I. So, I apologize, April. I swear we really do want you. Um, and we will correct that in the minutes. Um, April is a New Glouster resident. She, um, lives right here in town and she has some background experience in, um, driving vehicles as well as, um, working with children. So, we're very excited to be bringing her on board. Um, we have three resignations. Um, Bradley Nord and Michelle Stson. Bradley is a part-time art teacher here at Dun
094School and Michelle Stson is a classroom teacher at the middle school. Those are both resignations for uh through the at the end of the school year. So, they will be finishing out the school year with us. Um, but they won't be coming back next year. They both have gotten ex fabulous opportunities that we are very excited for them and super sad for us um because they both are a loss. Um but they are moving outside of education and doing some great things. We're really excited for them. Um we also are sad to say that uh one of our van drivers, Bonnie Valente Tuttle, is um has resigned and won't be with us anymore. Disappointed about that. Um, and then we have a retirement. Uh, Julie Stevens, one of our secretaries at the middle school, has
095officially said that she will be retiring. She will be deeply missed. Um, and, uh, but but that is official. The other that is not on this agenda, but will be on the next agenda, but I wanted to mention um, Beth Sutherland, who is an a longtime edtech at Russell School, just gave us her retirement today. Yesterday, yesterday. Um, so she We we will be extending an invitation for her to join us at the retiree recognition next month. I just didn't want it to be weird that she was at the recognition and then you are notified that she she'll be on the retirement for next month. So, uh again, we're we're sad to lose Beth, but uh we're very excited for her going into her retirement. She's been a long time staff member of ours. So,
096hopefully she will join us at the retirey record. Could you remind us that um recognition is directly ahead of the regular board regular board meeting. So please folks plan on attending that. I don't have any transfers to report at this time. Uh the other thing I wanted to report out is uh the University of Maine College of Education and Human Development Career Fair. Um credit where credit is due. Mr. Riley Benoy approached me and said he had heard about this um as an alumni and it would be an important opportunity for us to recruit particularly given um we've had a lot of special education opport um openings and that you know we do them at USM and a lot of places around here we work with GC to do some of these events um but
097the feedback he had heard was that the university made me there just really weren't any southern main schools going up to this event so um he not only brought it up but then he said I'd also be willing to take the lead in organizing it and and making it happen so anytime someone says hey there's this thing and I'll do it for you I don't say know. So, um, he, uh, took the reigns with that and was up at University of Maine all day on a Friday. Um, I felt bad. I didn't realize it was also opening night of Princess What's her name, so he he missed that because he was an orno. I felt I didn't realize that at the time. I would have covered for him differently. But anyway, he did a great
098job. Um, we were only one of two school districts south of Augusta there. Um, and and in the meantime, he heard from all kinds of people that said, "Oh, I live down in Southern Mine. I'm going back that way. and um Rick was able to give them information about our schools, pull up our site, show them what jobs we had open um and and talk with people. So um you know, a lot of the kids were in areas that we didn't necessarily have an opening at that time, but he was still able to kind of talk with them to say, you know, keep an eye, we'd love to have you and and making that connection. So um I think it's something that we need to So he and I reflected a little bit. I think
099we can do I think we did great. I think we can do better. Uh you know, theme things up a little bit more. Other places had giveaways. We didn't have any giveaways. So, you know, maybe we got to do that next time. Um, but get up there to University of Maine. We have tons of kids who live in southern Maine, as you heard from our top 10% who go up there and then a lot of them go home after school while they figure out. So, to u be making those connections and be able to hire um those kids coming out of school are incredibly important. So, um there's great opportunities. Great. Yes. Thanks to him for doing that. Um and we are not adjourning because we are gonna sign Good morning. Wow. New and improved.
100Can I add one more to mine before? You can because we have noted. We have not adjourned yet. Um we I think I spoke with some folks that I changed up how we were going to do the budget um uh mailer this year and instead of doing a full booklet, we've done a shorter but slightly more high quality um thank you uh budget information mailer. Uh these were dropped off at the post office today. They should start making their way into mailboxes tomorrow. Um so I brought a copy for everybody as well. And um I would say that some bonuses. We we really like streamlined the information that's in the um document. We really trying to push people towards the website and we're able to do it um at a savings of what we have
101done in years past. So to be able to do something that we think is of higher quality for less price um I I couldn't be more pleased and a huge shout out to Maggie. She keeps telling me she didn't do anything. She did everything. and um as well as Alicia Griffin in our office worked really hard. Um and Jen uh Jen Gagnon, they all just were huge help in making this happen. So take us ahead of time. So uh folks, I feel like we're getting away from the uh one meeting protocol here. Um as Chand was saying, newer, fancier, cheaper, and they're coming your way. Um, also Maggie did all the work and I know because I saw these boxes get delivered today and there was a lot of them. I can't believe they're already
102in the mail. Beautiful. How do you want Yeah, I'll put I'll put them into their first name on their birth certific. Can you get us off air for this unprofessionalism? People don't need