001Under eight letter D, we're adding >> uh eight letter D, we're adding Isaac's uh student council report. And then letter E will be uh the Searsport District Middle and High School library newsletter. We're going to share that there. Uh any other adjustments to the agenda? None. Okay. So, um, do I hear a motion to accept the board meeting agenda as amended? >> I'll second that. All those in favor. >> Okay, that's unanimous. That brings us to number four. Celebrating excellent excellence student and staff in the spotlight. >> We're good, right? It's green. >> So, unfortunately, we didn't have students show up, but um the intention was to have two eighth grade students come and talk to you guys about their KV experience. >> That's not an answer. >> No, here she is. really fun. >>
002Um I had students working last week on reflections and some of the highlights that they had experienced at Kiev. Um that has been shared with all board members or should be shared with all board members in a slideshow. So you can see from the students perspective um what that activity, what that trip meant to them. Um in in summary really I think what we we heard from the students was a couple of things. one that they could in fact survive for three days without their cell phones. And most were actually pretty um they noticed the difference between um when they're plugged in and they're on technology and the social media piece versus when they were engaging with each other and the the the the fruitfulness of the conversations and how they were interacting with each
003other and relating with each other. So I think there's a lot of merit to to that aspect of the trip. Um, beyond that, students spoke really highly about being pushed um to overcome some fears, to do some things they never thought they could do in terms of the climbing wall, in terms of some of the the high and low ropes apparatus. Um, there's again tons of great pictures. I can share those with you. I think the other thing that that really resonated in their reflections that you'll see is they came together and understood they have a lot more commonalities between them than they do differences. And so as a group coming together and really bonding um and that's the point of this and so um on behalf of them and um and Searsport Middle School
004I really thank you guys for continuing to support this um this activity. It's not cheap. It's nothing that um that comes easy and free but um it really does bring the eighth graders together in a really pivotal time as they get ready to trans transition and be be high schoolers. So, any questions for me on behalf of the students or the middle school about the the trip? >> I don't have any questions. I just I think it's such a valuable experience and I hope it's something that we can continue to do year after year. It's part of uh the Searsport District middle school culture now. And um I if those kids show up, I hope we can squeeze them in to share a little bit. >> They were talking a mile a minute on Friday
005about all the great things. Uh this this I think intimidated them a little bit. >> One of the things that we also talked about knowing that Kiev does a lot of team building. Um, we've also recognized within the eighth grade team, the middle school team, that we would like to try to secure a couple of educators to come perhaps in January, depending on what the pricing is and what we have in terms of PD to have them work with our middle school staff on practicing some of these um these advisory activities and these um these activities so that staff are more apt and trained to kind of um continue that kind of education And here happens to be one of my middle school students that would like to talk to you about his experience at
006Kiev. We started >> This is Arthur. Arthur is an eighth grade student who has graciously volunteered to come and talk to you about his experience at Kiev. I kind of gave a thumbnail sketch about um what the experience was like, but maybe you wanted to get us talking from the microphone. >> Yeah. Hi. Thank you so much that you do that because we're really not as scary as you want. >> He's not he's not intimidating. >> All right. So, >> what do you guys want to know about Kiev? >> What did you like best? >> What did I like best? Probably playing football with my friends. Also, the cabins were pretty fun. >> What challenged you the most? >> Challenged me the most? Probably the rock climbing. >> Why? Uh because I'm not very good
007at climbing rocks evidently. >> But you did. >> Also, when I went down, I literally dragged one of the people that was holding me up. >> I'm sure they used. >> Would you go again? >> Oh, yeah. Definitely, 100%. One of the parts that I one of the only parts that I didn't like about it was the fact that I couldn't have my phone only to take pictures. >> Oh, interesting. Because there were a bunch of places that it's like it was criminal for them not to let us take pictures. >> I should have just brought like my camera. >> How was the food? >> The food amazing. >> Food was really good. feel like you got to know some of your classmates for the winter. >> Oh yeah. Uh me and one classmate named
008Bod, we were semi friends at the start, but by the end we were like best friends. We also self-taught ourselves how to do the like whistle with your fingers in your mouth thing. >> Yeah, I still cannot do that. >> Did you make any bonds with any new kids at like different schools? cuz I know there were like >> not really schools when I went. >> I don't know. We didn't really mix with the other schools that much. The only other school we really hung out with was the people we played football with. >> Yeah. >> Cuz when I went there was uh Lincoln Academy. I think it was Lincoln Academy. And I've made a couple good friends that I still know. Actually, I play basketball with one of them still. So >> yeah. I
009don't know. We didn't really interact with the other schools that much. It was more like our school was split into two groups or three. >> Yeah, it was very fun. >> So, Arthur, if someone was nervous, a seventh grader going in eighth grade next year is nervous about going because it may be their first time away from home and they don't have phones, what would you say? What piece of advice would you give them? >> I don't know. Not really to be scared because all the staff is like really nice there and stuff. I got pulled me personally I got pulled aside like twice for them to say like oh you can come and talk to us about anything whenever you want. >> So you felt like there was a legitimate sincere connection. They weren't
010just saying that. Yeah. >> That's good. >> Yeah. It was really fun. It was You could tell the teachers like cared a lot. and it felt really welcoming when you were there. It was like you'd known them like your whole life. >> So, if there was one activity at Kiev that if you had the magic wand you could wave and we would do here, what would it be? >> Magic wand. Think big. >> Probably football. >> Maybe not that big. >> You ask. >> I know, right? football. >> Maybe we do some flag football. >> Not flag football, touch football. >> No questions, but thank you for coming to share with us. >> Very nice. Thank you. We appreciate this. >> We really like hearing the student perspective. So, thank you so much for sharing
011that. >> I wasn't sure where it was at first. We went to the school. >> We came here. >> That's okay. You did great and we appreciate you. >> You were right on time. Perfect timing. >> Come back anytime with things that you would like to share with us. >> Bring the artwork. >> Is that it? >> That's it. >> Yes. Thank you so much. >> I have some art that he did for me one time after I shaped a trip because the first time the class was a little which I still have. I'm like I'm saving it for your senior year. So before we leave the uh sort of recognition section of things, uh I just wanted to give a shout out to the faculty and staff, one of whom I know is behind
012me, who stayed at school on the Friday night of a holiday weekend to men, the homecoming dance, which was, I understand, a huge success. Um I know Mr. Toothacaker and Miss Love it and officer Love it were there, and I'm sure other folks were as well. So, thank you for going above and beyond on a holiday weekend. >> Hot stick in town. >> All right. Is that everything for celebrating excellence students and staff in the spotlight? Yes. Okay. Then we'll move on to consideration of board minutes from September 23rd, 2025. You do have those minutes in your packet. Um, I just need a motion to either >> adjust or approve those minutes. Motion to approve the minutes as written on for 92325. Second. All those in favor. Thank you. Uh, consent agenda has no items
013this evening. Uh, Miss Spiegel, are there any public participation? >> There are none. >> Okay, then that moves us right along to number eight, report from administration, beginning with the superintendent report. >> Thank you. Push my button. Um, I think that you could see by the packet. Again, I'm sharing enrollment with you on a monthly basis so that you can keep um up to speed on where we're at. We've declined since our September enrollment um by four students um and that happens throughout the year. They will be up and we'll be down. Um when you look at at the very bottom um I did want to point out so our super agreements in uh we have 19 students that um come into our district from other districts. We have 31 students that are going out.
014um our homeschool numbers. If you look when I reported to you in September, we had 30 and we're up to 65. I want you to be aware. Take a pause though, that we did have those 65, but the system is down through the DOE or where they they we are we did have that or we we didn't realize we had that figure, but Jessica's been putting them in because um parents can't get into the system, so they've been mailing and dropping them off. So other than that, we would have had them probably in August and have known that number. So it didn't really drastically increase. Um I do want to know you to know comparison number last year. I'm not sure at this time, but by the end of the year you had 75 students.
015So we we are down 10, which is hopefully a good good place for us to go that they've come our way. I'm not sure. Um yes. Are we allowed to either survey those folks to find out why they or do they does the paperwork they file like have to indicate for homeschooling or >> and and is there any mechanism by which I mean >> I I realize it's a fine line because you're not trying to say like oh we think you've made the wrong choice but just so that we could understand why people are making that choice. So they're not enrolled with us. They're not students. So I don't have contact information. We might have some based on a lot of them because they couldn't get into the system do turn into their hard copy
016packets, but I don't think that there's contact information on those packets. Um I think that we could if we did have that information and and perhaps Jess and I can look into that um and and have a conversation with them and see if we could gather any data on that. But um because they're technically they live in our district, but they're not ours. It's um it would be a challenge, but that's something if that you're suggesting I we can try. >> Can I can I pivot off of that because I happen to know probably a dozen or so of those families. Um one of the things that has been coming to light when we run into families in public is that not all of them are aware that they can access some of the programming
017and sports and stuff at the school. So, I'm wondering if one we can do one of those blasts on the Facebook page, but also maybe sometime in the spring, maybe do like an open house forum, invite them, question and answer, let their kiddos run around, let us ask, you know, willing folks that wanted to willing be willing to participate and just say, "Hey, is there anything we could be doing differently? Is this, you know, whatever the reasons are." Obviously, it's none of our I mean, we we have to be careful with that, but just kind of get some feedback um or answer any questions that they may have because some of the families I talked to had different ideas of what was actually going on in the district than what was actually going on in
018the district. So, um maybe just kind of opening it up and inviting just reminding like, hey, soccer is up, you know, don't forget the homeschool kids. um uh just to kind of keep that open door and remind folks that they can come in because some of them didn't know they could come in for just a certain subject or an activity or recess and lunch like you had indicated. So, if we can get that out there and at least have them part of our community a little bit, I think it would be helpful to everybody. >> It's also a great way to showcase different programs that our homeschoolers would like to participate in, whether it's art or music. We know that um they often participate in sports. Um there might be a like you suggested a
019subject area. Um it'd be a great showcase event. Those are great ideas. We'll work on that. Um the next section in my report to you was that we're beginning the curriculum work. Tenny Spiegel and I um have created documents. We're putting things together. We'll start with ELA. We already have dates scheduled for next week and the week after to work with K5 teachers. Um you're aware from principal Toothacre that grades 6 through 12 are already starting with the Rubicon Atlas and they're working on theirs, but we will combine so that we will have documents that are um uh available to the public that will have standards for all of the grade levels that will be there. Um, but the work that will start meeting with our K5 teachers and talking about standards and and what
020report cards and reporting looks like and things like that. So, ELA has dates already scheduled and music curriculum also has dates that are already scheduled. Um, I just finished the library documents, the draft documents, and then we'll schedule with um both um Drew and Sarah at the middle school. So, it'll be a K8 document. So, I'm hoping to get all of that initial work done with um staff at Tenny and I will before Christmas and then we'll finalize documents and then um let the curriculum committee know um that we'll be ready for a meeting to review those documents this spring sometime after Christmas. So, that's that's our tenative plan. Now, those dates are scheduled. We try to get them done early on purpose because things happen like weather and things which changes everything. So, we're
021hopeful to get those done, but if there's some date changes, it could kind of bump things because we need to see them in person and have conversation and go through the documents to make them doable. Um, further on in the packet, but again on my update, I've shared with you the um curriculum cycle, the draft curriculum cycle. Um, it's I think after the principles um it's somewhere in there. Let's see. might be under David's section or somewhere, but anyway, it's the five-year cycle. It's just before the um Searsport Middle School, High School Library Uc. And it looks like this if you haven't seen it. So, there are all the curriculum. That's our curriculum schedule that we'll be working on as you can see for the 2526 school year. English uh language arts, the music, and
022the library curriculum. Next year, we'll go in. We try to do one big core content area and then some lighter ones. So next year you'll see mathematics and then visual arts and unified arts. The following year social studies and then world language and um the career counseling um exploration unit um standards and then we'll go into science and then physical education and health and then we start all over again with that review again. So that's the plan right there. Um, sometimes things change, sometimes just what whatever's going on at that time um doesn't um always work and there might be changes and I will bring those changes to you if that's if that's where we're at. Um, fling in the fall was very very successful. We had great turnout from board members. We had almost
023all of you were able to jump in and and see people. No, it was great. We had Mr. Toothacaker was there, Mr. Wilcox was there. Um, Director Hajin was there. There was just lots of people that were there. Kenny, Miss Beagle was there, M. Beagle. Um, we had games going on. We had lots of moms and dads. We had lots, but we did put a lot of work into bringing lots of stuff for the community, hoping like applications for volunteers, for substitute teaching. We had lots of budget material and we didn't get any questions about that. >> But that's okay. I think our faces out there. I think there were lots of I think lots of parents were really tickled to see us out there. So, it was a great day. Um, Tenny and Shandra
024have been working on the ESSA application. You know that we get lots of federal funding for title one, title two, title four. Um, it's all there and they've been working on that. There's a still a couple things that they're working on. Um, you you kind of submit it and they take a look at it and then they send it back and say, "Could you check that one more time? Could you fix that? Could you twitch twitch that just a little bit?" So, they're still twitching a little bit, but we'll get that in there. >> No, they're twitching. No, no, I didn't misspe. No, there. Yeah, it's kind of like the Halloween twitch right now because it's after you've done after you do it a couple tweaks, it turns into twitches. I don't just don't know
025what to say beyond that. Um the after school program um we have Katie Bailey who who be our coordinator. We have uh put out um posting for looking for people that'll be working in it and the plan is to start next Monday. So, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday be the first first week of the ASA school program. So, we're excited about that. Um, Principal Wilcox is um chairing he and uh Tina Cook are chairing the wellness committee. Chris Brager was there as a board rep um last week and we had our first meeting. Um Lisa Anderson was also there and we're trying to kind of get an idea about the our current policy if we need to make any changes and then start setting goals for what it might look like for student goals and or staff
026goals. So stay tuned. There'll be some updates as we work through the year. And then the last thing, the YMCA contacted me, pretty exciting, and said that they are have received um I guess they're calling it a grant or an endowment from somebody, a three-year endowment, and they are working really hard to include um students from RSU 20 um in the YMCA. Specifically, we're starting with Bluefish swim team. So, I met with uh Sue and Russell. Russell. Um, last week I created a survey that went out to families um, over the weekend or Friday. Um, Mr. Bob put that out for me. Right now I only have eight responses, but out of those eight responses, seven students in our district said yes, they are interested or families said and having their students participate in Bluefish.
027So, I think that's a great first start. We're working, Shandra and I are working on um with Vern on transportation because part of it they'll also pay for the transportation of kids over and then back home again after practice. So um there's a a kind of a get to get try it out kind of get to feel um the third week or fourth week in October and then practice starts the first week in November for people that really want to do it. So I think that's a first step in trying to build. I know that was one of our conversations that it felt like um for whatever reason ours is 20 didn't feel like they were included in the why I think because it's it's operates in Belfast and it feels a little bit far
028for some families so we're kind of excited about that and that concludes my report questions not a question but thank you for um participating and coming down to the sixth graders um field trip down on the warf. It was a lot of fun seeing um the kids play and you interacting and um Dr. Miller actually convinced a US Coast Guard gentleman fully geared up to jump rope with us which >> and he did and he rocked it five or six times before a student jumped in and tripped him up and he jumping with all his gear and we're like I don't Ruth and I were both like oh my goodness he kept jumping. kids had a lot of time fun and it was really kind of neat seeing you go down there and they were
029like who's that and you never talked about >> and so it was it was nice to see you there. Thank you for coming. >> Thanks. >> Did I miss something? >> Oh yes I it's not in my report but um Shandra and Denise and I also went to Searsport Council meeting. Was that just last week? Because I just I think it was just last week. Again, we're every other month, every third month, we're trying to get into both both towns and just be present and they allowed us to speak and again we reminded them about the budget coming up and the vote and just saying that we want to be partners with them. We want to work collaboratively with them to support their towns obviously our towns as well as our school budget and they
030seem receptive to that. So, >> thanks. All right. If there are no other questions for Dr. Miller, then we'll have Mr. Toothacre come back up for his report. >> So, you should see my written report. Um, I'll expand upon that a little bit. Um, there are lots of really great things happening in the building. Um, we'll start with the middle school. A ton of hands-on learning activities in sixth grade. As it was mentioned before, we had a great trip um put together in conjunction with our staff as well as Jen Rich, who deserves a massive applause for helping organize all this to go down to the public warf and having the Coast Guard present and doing a bunch of team building activities, doing some coastline studies. Uh fantastic. And I think everybody came back mostly
031dry, not 100%. [Laughter] Um, seventh grade had a great activity while the sixth grade was down at the shore and the eighth grade was at Kiev. They had this great two-day lesson where they were looking at um, architecture and economics and a hands-on um, activity there where they were um, collaboratively working together. So, that was really nice to see some of that project-based hands-on learning making its way into the seventh grade. Eighth grade obviously had Kiev. Um but this week actually um Anna Ramron is taking her eighth grade classes back to Sears Island to uh visit the clams that were seated the previous season and dig those up and do some measurements and see how healthy they are. So that's happening what happened today and then we'll have another trip on Thursday as well. So
032great things happening in the middle school uh high school. I won't steal Mr. Traves thunder out but we had homecoming last week. You'll talk more about that. Um we have um we actually have some some classes that are heading to Sears Island. They did a survey class where they hiked the the the entirety of Sears Island doing some surveys um looking at some of the architecture, the the homestead area, um looking at the shoreline, looking at trees. Um tomorrow we are bringing about 20 students to University of Maine for the engineering expo. So a number of students are going to go check that out. Um which is really exciting. So, hats off to uh Mr. Hunaman and Miss Lindyberg for organizing and getting that off the ground. Um would like to formally introduce and recognize
033our student rep, Isaac Traves. Um as you may or may not know, a couple of years ago, we changed the student rep structure. We before the policy was that we were we would look for a volunteer. Um sometimes we were very unsuccessful with that. And so now the uh the current expectation is that somebody from the student council executive cabinet whether it's the president, vice president, secretary or treasurer will be here to give a report out what's going on in the high school as well as be part of the meetings. So uh he'll talk about homecoming a little bit. Co-curricular athletics um clubs are up and running. We have math team, we have a skateboard club, a ski club, a pingpong club. Uh all happening throughout the week during advisories. So, it's nice to to
034have some of those offerings for kids who may not want to fully commit to a sports season to have some engagement there. Uh, theater is up and running. We have our high school theater program um working in grades 6 through 12 producing six about the six wives of Henry VII. We also have um worked with the afterchool program to as well offer um middle school students to be part of Frozen Junior. So, we have a a choice of students in which kind of avenue of theater they're going to approach. >> Um, I think that's it for Oh, seasons are coming to an end. Um, we are in the last week of middle school sports. The girls soccer team just narrowly lost one to one to two against Great Salt Bay. So, their season is over.
035Boys will play tomorrow at Oceanside. And the high school teams are wrapping up uh this week and then you have two games next week, correct? >> We have shed today. We have shed today and then we have on Tuesday we play >> another team. There you go. >> Those are our last two games. >> Thursday is shed and then Tuesday is >> Callus. So those seasons are coming to to an end as we transition out of fall sports and start thinking about winter sports right around the corner. Um curriculum and instruction wise um as Dr. Miller was saying um staff are continuing continuing to work on the curriculum piece and are inputting their units and lessons and standards into Atlas so we can get a comprehensive uh 612 um view of what's going on inside
036of the building. and we are working with officer Levit to start to have Alice training. Um, and that's something we are going to be trying to facilitate and coordinate by training families in the district about what our emergency procedures are. We'd also like to talk at some point about Officer Levit and I before a board meeting doing the one-hour training with all the board members so they're aware of what our emergency procedures, what they look like and what a training may look like on on that end. So that is what I have for the middle high school. If there are any questions, I'd be happy to entertain them. >> I have one question, Mr. T, and one comment. The question is, uh, what are what is going to be done with the models of the
037landmarks that the seventh graders >> we are looking at taking the there's a um a display cabinet in the middle school and we're looking at rotating out some of the old projects and putting those in either there or the library. >> Great. Fantastic. I was hoping that they would be on display somehow. >> That is the plan. >> And I just wanted to formally welcome Isaac to our board and just let you know, Isaac, um we really appreciate you or somebody who stands in for you from student council being here and giving us the student perspective. We really enjoy that. So, thank you. >> Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. T. >> All right, >> Mr. Wilox tonight. >> Yeah. >> Jeez. At home, you guys win or lose? >> I won't even ask.
038Not on the public record. Um, good evening everyone. So, between uh R.J.'s fabulous newsletter and Dr. Miller's report. They took a lot of my thunder today. So, I hope you guys saw that newsletter. Um, it was fabulous. Um, kind of echoing all Mr. Toothaker said, a lot of hands-on learning. I did highlight our bug and boat tour. So, thank you to Mr. Wyman for providing that for grades two to five. The kiddos got to walk down, got to all get on the boat and a lot of them were pretty terrified because a lot of kiddos have never been on a boat. So, the kids were pretty hysterical, but we got them to overcome the fear of everyone on the boat. They got to check some sea creatures, stuff like that. So, huge shout out to
039Mr. Wyman and Miss Amy Hafford for setting that up because that was a great experience. Um, like Dr. Miller said, Mr. Toothacaker, after school program starting up soon, 3 through 8. Um, huge shout out to Katie Bailey. She's the new director and I think she's going to be rock solid there. She's going to be rock solid. Um, also want to shout out Mr. to Toothaker for allowing us to work with James Azert and Darren Molton who did the scarecrows. I don't know if you guys have been by the Ponobscot Museum. There's four scarecrows. One's the invisible scarecrow, so bear with our fourth graders. But they did um make those throughout the last week. They got to vote. Um so it was a great time to see the kiddos and I've never seen fifth graders more
040excited about doing the trucker thing on the side of the road. We must had every truck honking in Searsport that day. Um so it was great to just see that connection and building that connection K through 12. Um moving on, we did do a staff PD on September 24th. We got to work with Miss Spiegel and I Ready as well as the regulated classroom. Miss Emily Daniels came in and worked with staff. So it was just a good funfield day and I think it staff took a lot away from it. Um moving down into our September student of the month, we started that back up. It was a great assembly. Um thank you for the guidance of Dr. Miller. We have tied in pre-k to those now. So now we really have the full school
041with prek through 5. We never did that before. So we're really trying to bring them in and it was a great time. um did a relay race with parents and then we did some a fall foliage challenge where kiddos had to get decorated in um sticky notes and just kind of celebrate that. But it was a great time to celebrate those kiddos. Um like I said I my report's short. There's a lot of happenings I think um between curriculums and stuff like that. But SCS is fully entrenched in routines and I think we got a good good ship going and I'm excited for what's to come. >> Any questions or comments? >> Thank you Mr. Wilcox. >> Perfect. Thank you. >> All right, that brings us to our report from Isaac. >> No, turn the
042mic on. >> Oh, I was going to make him stand up. >> He made me tired. >> That's true. >> So, um, last week, student council put on our annual homecoming week. Uh, we had daily dress up days, lunch games, and to end of the week, we had a schoolwide assembly, which was great. Everyone loved it. Uh, cameras out. Well, phones, but cameras were out, smiles, laughing, school bonding. It was great. Um, the winner this year was the seniors sadly, but uh they defended their March Madness win from last year. Um, 70% of the school participated in daily dressup days and in the assembly. Um, on Friday, we also hosted a homecoming dance. Uh, 59 students attended the dance. Dance was actually really good. People said they enjoyed it. I talked to a couple of
043kids. No complaints. Everyone had a good time. A lot of people dancing. New to see. Nice to see. Um just lots of bonding was going on last week. So just looking to continue that into March Madness when that pops up or any other spirit weeks that we might do. Maybe something for winter is what we're looking at right now. So yeah. Any questions? Thank you. Oh, >> thank you. All right. I guess we have um the library newsletter in our packet, but Dr. Miller, were you going to say anything about that? >> Um I talked to Principal Toothaker and just and and checked with Sarah Wyman. Um it was a beautiful newsletter and I just wanted again, we're working really hard to make sure that we're sharing with you all the things that are happening
044in our schools. And I think that the library is alive and well at a middle school, high school. when I um when I contacted Sarah, she's like, "Of course you can share." So, um I suspect that we'll see more. This says September. I don't know if it's going to be a quarterly or what it's going to be. If you know this, >> I I don't know when the the newsletter is going to come out. I'll just say in talking with Sarah, it's just a continuation of trying to make the the library not your typical library where it's about checking out books. It's a place where students can come to be creative. There's a mini maker space there. There's a multimedia lab. There's a podcasting station. So, really trying to broaden the the horizon and the
045definition of what a traditional school library looks like. So, very welcoming. Um, she teaches classes, kids are doing research projects down there. Just phenomenal space. Really lucky to have it. >> As I was leaving, we had an administrative team meeting there today. I was leaving. I was schooled in. They have a a brand new fish tank. I think 35 g 33 gallon. It's amazing and they have all kinds of fish that they've already added and they're getting ready to add more and it was very exciting but it's beautiful. So if you get in to see that space you'll be captivated as I was. I'm sure >> it sounds fantastic. That is a beautiful space and I'm so glad that it's being utilized in such a creative and fun way. Thanks Mr. Toothacre for sharing that.
046All right, if there are no questions, I'll move on to number nine, committee reports. Looks like there are none. We also have no old business. New business, uh, letter A, evaluation of the superintendent. You'll see in your packet the evaluation as well as Dr. Miller's goals. Did you want to talk about those a little bit, Dr. Miller? >> Yes, please. So, I share with you a number of policies that I pulled up um out of our policy handbook just to I was reading them and to keep so that we're all on the same page. Um but CBI specifically talks about um the supervision as an evaluation of the superintendent. Um I think that it's important that I when I talked to Chris a little bit as we were going over the agenda um that I'm
047aware of what that evaluation should look like. one of the um comments in or in one of the policies talks about um that the board is supportive of me um through this transition um as a new superintendent and I can say I c couldn't ask for a better board to work with as far as the transition. It's been very helpful. I think that you've been clear with me and and it's helped me to be directed about the things that I'm trying to accomplish. So on the bottom of that pile, I shared with you uh draft goals um that have kind of taken over my work since um I started in July. So at the top you'll see this is the um goal that was identified at our summer um retreat and that was to develop
048a strategic plan. So overall that would be technically that's your goal but I'm the one that's helping you facilitate that. So I put that there. Other goals that I've identified um along with the administrative team that are supported is a focus on instructional leadership. That was something that came out loud and clear in our summer admin meeting talking about what does good and um instruction look like in our district. So, one of the goals that and I shared this with you earlier this year, but we're beginning to have conversations about highly effective instructional strategies. We're talking about um what that can look like in rooms teaching different content areas. So that's something that administration and I came up with that we felt was important. The other thing is what I heard from you in my
049interview and this in my work since I started in July is curriculum and creating documents that are forward- facing on our web page and out there so that community knows that staff knows and in conjunction with what's being done at the middle school and high school through um Atlas we'll also um Mrs. Beagle and I will be creating documents and we'll get that up there as long as as well as the revision cycle. Um the third thing was focusing on community involvement and how do we um make ourselves visible? How do we encourage the community to collaborate and partner with us on different things um and based on that fa paying attention to school climate and school culture. So that was the third one. And then the last thing is just I think that there's
050a lot of things that we can just tweak and adjust to create a system that's more effective and more efficient in this district. So examples are staff evaluations across all departments on department handbooks, U code of conduct handbook, substitute volunteer handbooks. There's lots of things like that. Goal sheets for staff and administrators, safety training, um and then uh consistent bus rules and um and what conduct looks like on the bus. And that's kind of technically they say that new superintendent, two goals, no more than two. This seems like a lot, but it is all of the things that we've already been working on. So, I don't feel overwhelmed by that. But I am sharing these with you and asking for feedback and whether you want to give them tonight as we talk about them or
051if you want to email me or add it to another agenda as we move forward. But the other piece um Chris and I were talking about earlier is just the process of u superintendent evaluation and when that occurs and Mr. Mr. Bradford was able to share with us that um evaluation usually happens in December. So that's coming right up and be and part of that in the past has been that you're surveying the board, the community uh sorry staff um and administration. So if you're going to survey that and get that back and then coalate it and be able to share that with me, I think that we probably need to start that process fairly soon. So if you want to start with if you anybody has feedback I'm happy to hear that on goals.
052>> I just want to thank you for capturing everything we talked about during that interview process as well as after you came on board when you met with all of us. I think you've captured the essence of of what we all um were thinking during those two time frames. Um our wishes and hopes for this district. Um and somehow you succinctly got that into four goals and they're beautiful. They're wonderful. Thank you so much. >> Am I missing anything? And I would just add also the evidence for a lot of these, like you said, you're already doing these things. We're already seeing that um that uh outreach to the community on so many different levels. And we we you've given us tonight your curriculum review and revise cycle. Um, so we're seeing so much of
053this already, the systems with all the handbooks and different things that you have developed and improved for the district. >> And I appreciate, thank you for that feedback and I appreciate that it says that these are my goals, but ultimately ultimately it really is myself and the directors and the administrative team working on this. It's not a it's not just a me, it's a we kind of thing that has to happen or it's not really going to come to fruition. So >> wonderful. Um, I would echo Chris in terms of the the goals themselves, uh, but wondered if we might also be able to talk about the timeline. Um. >> Mhm. >> Because it does seem a little premature to be evaluating you in December. Although I understand the principle of it and that if
054it's an annual thing as we get further along, we might. But I just wonder if there's some way that we might be able to sort of split the difference for year one at least and maybe I don't know March or something and then move back to December moving forward. I don't know. I I was just quickly scanning. I don't think it is. It just says annually. I was just really quickly scanning. >> That's what I looked for the date. Yep. I agree. >> So two things >> I don't know. >> Two things. One I shared with Chris generally it's done in December for for a couple purposes. One is budget. So if part of my evaluation includes whatever my pay scale is going to be, that needs to be part of it. You could look
055at doing one now and one in June. you could do a secondary one to give feedback as we move forward into the next year. Um the other purpose is if it were not going well, December is usually the time so that um your superintendent could look for another position. I guess if we stuck with December, um, then I think I might advocate for at least informally trying to say, you know, here's the two goals that I really or you know, so it just seems like a lot to be trying to cover in a first evaluation. >> And you're right, and certainly not accomplished by December, right? I mean, these are things that I'm working on. they wouldn't be accomplished and they might not even be accomplished by July, right? I mean, there's something honestly setting
056these I'm thinking by next December perhaps that these would be some of these things would be and then we'd be replacing them with new goals. >> Well, I think if we look at that through the lens of like the rubric we do for the school year, right? It's the it's the whole thing because I'm learning that because I see that number and I'm like, "Wait, what about this?" And it's building capacity through the year and I appreciate the fact that >> you're very organized in this. the transparency is there, the action steps are are there, and there's already you can feel the change. So, um I think that for me, I I would say that we go into the December understanding that this is new where we were in where we were in June, what
057we've asked her to start and what she's already done, understanding that this is the same thing as with the students, it's it's for a year-long >> um assessment and and look at it from that lens. I think that It may keep things more organized and fluid because I have high hopes that we'll be doing this again next summer. Right. So, >> and if Sabrina, you wanted to put an emphasis on two, if you thought there were two goals here that you really want me to pay attention to more than we could go in that direction as well and knowing that all of these things would be worked on, but these would be the two that are most important to you as a board. I was thinking about it a little differently. I was thinking about
058it in terms of the time frame of each of these goals. Obviously, the curriculum one is much more long-term. Um, and well, I was looking at three and four as being goals that we've already seen outcomes for and could really, I think, look at in terms of what has been accomplished to date, >> right? >> Whereas one and two are really going to take more time to develop. Mhm. >> So if we were to pick two, I would recommend three and four. >> That's fair. >> Thank you. That's helpful. I wonder if we should have more discussion about that evaluation process before November and where would that take place >> workshop? >> Okay, we'll talk about that later on down the agenda here. >> Mhm. >> Okay. So, are there any other questions for Dr.
059Miller? All right, then I'm going to move on to letter B. We have two first readings. The student computer and internet use and internet safety and the student computer and internet use rules. These two are in your packet and you'll see the changes that were made. Not very many um highlighted in red. I believe one is just the cross references >> and the other one just had a singular addition to I can't remember now what >> plagiarism. That's right. >> In third party. >> So this is the first reading. So, we have no action. We'll bring that back to our next board meeting for a second reading. Are there any questions? >> Not not a question, but just to kind of echo what she said. Um, one of them l literally the only real changes
060we made were um updating the legal cross references, the legal statutory references and then the cross references with other policies. The only thing substantive if anybody wants to look is um on page two of five for make sure I got the right one before I say that the student com the J N DBR there was a line added about violating third party providers and then plagiarism but the rest of it has stayed the same to make it easy for folks if they want to go back and look >> Sabrina >> sorry to Is this the computer that says I'm silently correcting your grammar? No, it's not. Um, sorry to be the both the So, I have a a kind of the way this is structured, the grammar is wrong. Question, but I also have a
061philosophical question about why we put this in here anyway. So, the philosophical question is why choose to put something about plagiarism in the student computer and internet? You like, I'm not saying it shouldn't be somewhere. I'm just not sure why we put it in this policy. And if we decide that we are still keeping it, the language doesn't make sense because it's under a section that's framed as student students may not. So, at a minimum, you'd have to change it to say may not plagiarize rather than may not plagiarism. Um, but then I'd be interested to know the rationale of why it's or I guess it was already here. >> Okay. So, this is a thing that >> just a reward. >> So, you guys didn't make the decision to put it and you just
062rewarded it. >> All right. Well, I'll withdraw that sort of philosophical question about why that is here because I don't think it should be. But if it's been here for a while, but if we could at least fix the grammar, that would make me happier. >> So that is just changing plagiarism to plagiarize. >> Yeah, that would then make it read correctly. >> I think that's what was in there originally. >> It is. Yeah. >> And if you go back a page number four, that's underlined, violating third party terms. >> That's all brand new. It's underlined. Anything that's underlined is brand new. And back on page one, number four is also new language. So anything that's underlined is new language that's been added. >> And so technically number four should also now say violate just
063like number three. >> Those are easy changes to make before our next meeting. Any other thoughts, questions? All right, we will make those changes and bring that back for second reading. >> Letter C is curriculum review and revise cycle 2530 >> and we've already seen it. I shared that with you in my report. So, it's a a double dipper. >> Any thoughts or questions on that cycle now that you've seen it? It's nice to see that >> good >> in such an organized manner. >> I have one just one quick question. These are big. These are not I mean they look like they're simple but they're not. They're pretty lofty. So, is the plan that we get like a quarterly kind of report out on like what's been going on with that or something like
064what's the plan for as you tackle this to keep us up to date because some of it may get to parents and say, "Hey, what's going on?" or by just so that we have some idea. >> Good question. So Tenny and I, as I said, we've already have dates set that we'll be working with first. So day one in the morning, we'll be kindergarten teacher and we'll go through all the kindergarten standards. In the afternoon, it'll be working with first grade teachers. And then on another day, it's second grade teachers and third grade. Another day, fourth and fifth grade. Um, we have documents that have the standards. We will talk about instruction. We'll talk about best practices. We'll talk about integration and what it can look like. We'll talk about report cards and building a
065rubric with all of these standards. Um it can be done in a couple days with um we'll going to work really hard to get substitutes to cover classrooms so that we can pull these teachers for a half a day. Um and then as far as updates to you then it will go once we have all the documents completed and it the draft documents are all done. I've got them all completed and we're just filling in kind of the pieces and and discussion. Um then they will go to the curriculum committee that we have. we'll bring them and say this is our draft. This is what we're proposing and then none of these will go into effect and they're not until the next school year. So no changes once the school year's already started. So in
066once we've complete these can teachers use these new updated standards they can. Um, and it really there's very small changes from the the previous versions that we're not noticing a lot of change, but technically they don't have to begin using these new standards until the fall of 2026. Does that answer what you're thinking? >> Because you're right, it can be really tricky to have updated standards when wait, I've been using these standards and it's a quarter of the way through the school year and are you asking me to change standards and it doesn't make sense? But currently the magnetic reading program that we're using is aligned to the common core/arning main learning results standard. So it really isn't going to change their instruction a lot. The work that's most important is the conversation about each
067standard. So if I'm a kindergarten teacher and it says that by the end of kindergarten that students will recognize all of their uppercase and lowercase letters. We have conversations about do you use those that terminology uppercase and lowercase? Do you use little and big? Do you use capital letters and small letters? Things like that that we're talking about nuance. And then when you have two teachers that are teaching the same grade level, how are you making sure that it's calibrated? Ruth is teaching second grade. I'm teaching second grade. And her interpretation of the standard is this. Oh, Shanderson's interpretation is, oh, I thought it meant this. So, you start calibrating and it's a lot of professional development that's happening. It's not just a sit down and going through a checklist. It's a lot of conversation.
068and that morning is is rich. In a larger district, you would have generally have them for a full day and not just a half a day. But because it's fairly small here, I think that we can get the good work done in a half a day. But we'll be busy. Um, and David is part of this as well as, you know, the school leader. He needs to be nuanced in what are the standards, what are the expectations per grade level. But our challenge as we already know is David may be covering classrooms while we're working with teachers because it's really been a trick for I whether you know or not our principles have been in classrooms a lot already this school year covering Josh has been in Billison missed um the admin team meeting today
069because he's in a classroom subbing. We're um Jess has been working really hard with principles. We're up to I think eight substitutes right now. Eight. But that's not many when some days you might have 10 or 12 people up. So, and that's teachers. That's not even considering support staff ed that we generally don't we can't get subs for at all. So, >> I have a quick question about that. Um, are we is that advertised? Is that being advertised? >> It is. Um, R.J. put together a really nice and it's posted and it's been reposted. It's been shared. We brought that when we went down to the fling into fall. We had lots of, you know, information. We're working hard and we're hoping by word of mouth and I think it's starting to happen that we
070did increase our rates um this year to be a little bit competitive with the people around us. I think that we're making strides and I think once we start to build that good feeling that this is a good place to work, that the kids are great to work with, that the staff is great to work with, that we're going to increase the number of people. But the biggest thing I think Shander and I have talked about the administration, we have to be competitive with um districts around us because if you have the chance to sub 71 and they're paying $20 more a day, where are you going to go for the same work? Can I I can go over there and make $20 more a day. We have to be aware of that. So that's
071something when we do the budget again that we're going to we did raise it this summer, but it's >> Are they really making $20 more? >> Yes, they are. >> Yeah. And in some cases more, right? Yep. We're also going to be having >> we're also going to be having to increase um the rate uh because the minimum wage is going up in uh January. So, by law, we have to increase um our rates to make sure that it's 125 115 125% of the minimum wage. So, we're going to have to do that in January anyway. or as well I should say not anyway as well. Where are those um where is that being advertised? Just out of curiosity. >> I think it's in serving schools. >> Serving schools. It's been on our Facebook account.
072RJ created um I did it get pushed out through reach my teach. I don't know. We've we did it in flinging to follow. We've tried to put it up in lots of different places. So >> um are we is it going in the newsletters? That's >> good question. >> I know. >> Could it? Yes. And R.J. is doing the quarterly newsletter and I think we could make sure there's a link for that as well or put that and keep it alive alive and well. >> So, how are we reaching folks who are not um like educators and might not know to look where it's being advertised or not parents where they would see it on the newsletter. How are we reaching that? I'm not sure we're reaching that we're able to reach out to them,
073but by word of mouth, we are starting to get, for example, we talked about um a lady today that had a connection with somebody else that called and asked for an application. So, >> again, word of mouth, I think, is generally I think I think most communities know that all districts are always looking for some. So, if anybody has a little bit of a tickle in their brain that Yeah. Um, I'm wondering if we could drop off applications and handbooks to the town offices. >> That's a great idea, >> especially before voting >> on them before. >> That is a good idea. >> I don't know if they would um do it because I guess we're probably not chamber members, but you might also just ask whether the um the chamber would be willing to
074put it in their job board thing that they do with their newsletter. It might be just as a public service kind of thing. >> I'm just wondering how we might reach that retired population better because they might not be on Facebook or they're they might not be looking at serving schools. I I think that before it was almost impossible to find an RSU20 thing on Facebook and it's like every day and so like I've been when I see them come up in the evening I'm I'm sharing and like people that I know are sharing and it's sharing so like it's getting out a lot like I'm hearing it like I'm hearing people that I know are not on Facebook saying oh I heard that you guys are doing this this and this and so the
075word it's you're right there's probably another avenue But it is there's so much of a footprint now of Harvest U20 on on the social and the and most people's reach my teach apparently is going to continue to crash. Um but it's it's it's getting out there. People are hearing about it >> in all things like the library, the sports, the what's you know the welcome when people come to you know the to the district. That's been huge. People are responding to that stuff left and right. We could also reach out to the retired teachers association >> as well. >> I think that's a great idea because eight is not enough for sure. >> Oh gosh. >> Could you post something on the board down by the public service place? They put often put announcements there
076and say, you know, looking for substitutes or bus drivers or whatever it is that you need. >> Where is it? The board by the public. It's right out in front of the public u like the fire department and stuff. There's a big board and they often put >> board their version of the >> one out by the road. >> Yeah. I think the libraries might be a good place to put it as well. >> And don't laugh but Edwards everybody gets their news from Edwards. >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. >> For and Jess's future. >> Road trip. road. Big long road. >> That's right. >> These are all great ideas. Thank you. >> All right. We moved letter D, so I'm going to skip to E. Um, we do need a motion to accept our November
0775th, 2025 as the date to accept the results of the budget referendum for RSU 20. So, do I hear a motion? Second. >> All those in favor? That's unanimous. Thank you. All right, that leaves us with >> just as a point of clarification for our calendars, will that be a 6:30, a six, a because it's an sort of not regular board meeting. >> So the day before is the 4th. That's voting, right? >> The following week that would generally be our meeting, the 11th is a holiday, >> is Veterans Day, right? >> So I'm suggesting becomes our regular board meeting as well that it wouldn't just be a short that we would move. That's what's coming up that Chris is going to talk about. >> So 6:30 6:30 the regular time. >> Yeah. >> Would
078that work? >> Yep. >> Okay. That brings us to date and time and location for the next board meeting. Wednesday, November 5th, 2025 at 6:30 here. Right. We'll be here. And then uh we wanted to talk about whether or not we needed the 1028 meeting. I guess I kind of jumped ahead of myself by saying our next meeting was November 5th. Uh our next meeting is actually scheduled for October 28th. >> If we continue following our twice a month, we you've been very busy July, August, September that we've done two, but I also know that in prior to this new superintendent, you were just wants to >> we've been using that second one as a workshop >> things pop up >> when things pop up. >> So I I have two things I would first
079of all I actually can't be there on the 28th no matter what even though I'm going to say do we need that as a workshop day for whatever you wanted to talk about in terms of the superintendent evaluation procedures. Well, I think if we used that for for a workshop, it might be pretty brief. I think we just would need to sort of solidify a plan for um the selection of those if see if everyone agrees that those are the two goals we want to focus on. Um the the evaluation itself, the survey is already created and we might just need to set dates for that to go out, Mr. Bradford. Um and that would be it, I think, >> unless somebody can think of something else. >> I'm out of state that whole week.
080I won't be back until like late Wednesday night, so I won't be here the 28th either. >> So So the 28th doesn't sound like a great day for doing that. doesn't sound like do it as part of our regular meeting on the 5th. >> I don't see why not. >> Can we do we need to do the workshop like a half an hour before and then the meeting? >> So the 5th would also be we won't have a finance. So yes, you could do a workshop from 6:00 to 6:30 and then I think that's a great plan. Okay. So, Wednesday, November 5th, we'll workshop from 6:00 to 6:30 and then we'll have our meeting to confirm the vote. Uh, at 6:30, we do have a couple committee meetings coming up. Um, we've already talked about
081the October 16th Waldo Tech Center meeting, Waldo County Tech Center meeting. Um, Denise, Chris, and Julie are planning on attending. If Denise is still ill, however, we might need a standin and I think Sabrina has agreed to do that. >> Absolutely. >> If she absolutely has to. Thank you. >> You call Denise and say, "I am bringing chicken soup to you. And then uh Tuesday, October 28th, we do have a policy meeting at 5:30. >> I do have that. >> Okay. >> Unless you want to reschedu for a different day, but I think that's our >> Oh, >> Ruth is not here. So, we will have to >> mean we can squeeze it in at 5:30. Do 5:36, but you're on like half an hour. I think that's You want to go with this? >>
082Is half an hour long enough? >> I don't know. I'm just looking at I have to check my work schedule. Um because I may be required to be in Augusta until 4:30. >> So, okay. >> I don't know that for sure. >> I'm game for doing it at 5. Can I is it possible? So >> on the 5th >> just to I just need to double check whether or not I I will be released from that obligation. >> I'm going to say tentative November 5th. Any chance a little bit earlier than five anybody or not? >> If I don't have to be where I need to be in Augusta, then I I can do it earlier. It's just a matter of whether or not I I won't know that until I'm gonna I won't know
083that. It's outside of my hands right now. >> I'm gonna >> That would work for me, I think. Yeah. >> If If we could do from >> I could use >> 4:30 to 5:30, right? And then >> What time is the next meeting? >> Not till 6. >> 5 would be good. >> 5 to 6 would give us an hour. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Okay. >> All right. I'll put it in. We're going to wait to hear back from >> Yes. Sounds good. Okay, I think that's everything. Do I hear a motion to adjurnn? >> Motion. >> All those in favor? >> Thank you, everyone.