001Mhm. >> Good evening, everybody. Uh Lori, you okay with attendance? >> Perfect. Thank you. >> Awesome. I will accept a motion to approve the school board minute meetings for Could I say that again? Meeting minutes from March 5th, 2026 special school board meeting. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any additions, addi- subtractions, changes? No. All those in favor? >> Aye. >> All those opposed? Any abstentions? No. Motion carries. Okay, we have a presentation from for the Hall of Fame from Clint Brooks. >> Thanks, sir. Uh just just a brief history. I'll just switch. Got you. Just a brief history of while you I know I didn't give you much time to look through these packets because I was running a little late from work. So, while you're doing that, if you want to take a
002second, let me just back up cuz this this really started, uh believe it or not, about 25 years ago. Uh for several years I sat in those chairs where you people are sitting tonight and had the uh fun of working with four different superintendents over those years and one of them's name was Ed Connolly. And I know Scott knows Ed and I know Tanya knows Ed. Ed and I got to be very close friends over the years and we had one thing one common bond between us. We love sports. And Ed lived in Westbrook and so on committee meeting nights we would quite often just go out to the Chuck Wagon rather than he driving home to Westbrook and then coming back and one night just in the course of conversation we got talking about
003Cooperstown the Baseball Hall of Fame. And Ed wanted Robin and I, Robin Roberts, a friend of mine. Ed would wanted us to go to Cooperstown. And then of course he just casually dropped the seed and said, you know, wouldn't it be great if high schools had sports Hall of Fames? And that's where it ended. That was 20 25 years ago. I don't know, a long time ago. Long time ago. Fast forward 25 years and I happen to see an article one night and I don't know where I saw it that Rumford, Mexico {slash} Mountain Valley was starting a sports Hall of Fame for their two high schools or now three high schools uh and I thought, jeez, I've heard and talked about this before. And it was only a maybe a month or so after
004that that I ran into a an old AD of mine, Tim James Black, and James had started the groundwork for one here at Spruce while he was here for a couple of years and then he left and it kind of took backseat and the file and never went anywhere, but I did maintain contact with James and he casually just kind of mentioned it to him you one time and said, you know, did anything ever come of his idea for a Hall of Fame here at Spruce? And I said, not that I'm aware of. And he said, I think you'd be interested. And it just so happened that Mount Blue was doing an induction ceremony within a week or two of that time that I talked to to James and he said I think you you
005should see it to see you'd be impressed. Well, long story short I was impressed. The night that I saw it it was it was between two basketball games and the gym that night, if you've ever been in the Mount Blue gym, it was packed to the gills and it was an impressive ceremony. So afterward I chatted with James and I said I'm sold on this. So he worked with me cuz I really didn't I I I didn't know really how to begin and he worked with me and then uh I got Robin Robinson involved. Robin and I have coached and played ball together for about 35 years so we're always a good sounding board for each other and I said, you know, what do you think Robin? He said I think we should do it.
006So we got together and met with Mark and T.J. and they were obviously naturally on board with it. Uh went to see Scott. Scott was on board. I knew Scott would be on board. First time I ever walked in Scott's office I think I saw a picture of uh Parish, McHale, and Bird. So I I knew he was a keeper when we hired Scott back in those days. Any any Celtics fan's got to be good with me. >> [snorts] >> Be that as it may the thing began to evolve and I had to put something together so I borrowed ideas from Brewer from Mount Blue from Spruce, so the one that that James started some years ago and kind of put this together. It's not perfect. Uh some of my ideas, some are not. Some
007are borrowed and some are bought. Uh but it I think what it does do and and it's it's not something we're going to be able to go through tonight. Uh But it gives you an idea of exactly what we want to do with this Hall of Fame. So, I think the best way I can explain it to you is just to share the mission statement that I've come up with for for our sports Hall of Fame. So, I'm just going to read that verbatim for you just for a for a second if you will indulge me. The Tigers-Androscoggin Sports Hall of Fame will honor J. Livermore and Livermore Falls student athletes, coaches, teams, and special contributors past and present who have brought outstanding recognition to both themselves and the schools serving the Tri-Town area. It
008is our belief that recognizing and honoring these individuals will inspire future Mountain student athletes and teams to strive for this distinction. Sports and team involvement is undeniably an inextricable part of so many students' high school experience. We believe this endeavor will energize the spirit and determination of future athletes to reach this level of success both on the field and in the classroom by perpetuating the memory and accomplishments of those who have preceded them. I'm not going to go through this verbatim page by page cuz we'd still be here at 11:00 tonight and I'm sure there's probably very few who wish to do that. But just to give you a just a rough idea of how we set this up. Uh there are essentially two committees or two governing bodies, if you will, with this. The
009executive committee, which will be made up as you as you can see by by uh people in these particular positions right now. It would it would be T.J. Uh it would be Mark. Uh Tina Veilleux, who is president of the All Sports Boosters. And I've asked uh Deb Holland, I'm sorry, Deb Roberts to come on board because she's had a lot of experience over the years with the Holland Foundation with getting things like this set up. So, that's going to basically make up our executive committee. And the charge of the executive committee is just to oversee the entirety of the of the Hall of Fame. Uh I've outlined the responsibilities and I'm not sure I'm not sure that Mark and TJ have had an opportunity to look through this. So, I may get a phone
010call tomorrow morning and say, "Ah." But I don't think they will cuz I know they fully support this as much as I do. I think you you'll also find in there the second the second committee and that is the selection committee. And I really wasn't sure how to put that selection committee together. I kind of based it on the three G's: gender, geography, and geriatrics. Uh Gender because I wanted a good balance of male and female so that we get that balance eventually on our Hall of Fame. Geography to make sure that we included people from all three of the area towns. And obviously geriatrics because we needed a a few more younger people besides me on that committee to make sure that we we want to go back even if we're going back into
011the '40s and '50s, those are the people that we eventually want to include. And obviously we're going to have athletes from the Spruce Mountain, from this area, and from 10 years ago and 20. But I want to make sure that we go back and recognize people who have given so much to the sports picture here in Chisholm Falls over the years. And we certainly know that sentiment if you if you had the opportunity to be at the Civic Center in Augusta a couple of weeks ago, and I know Tainter was there cuz I saw her. There's a lot of pride in in the sports endeavor that takes place at Spruce Mountain. So, hopefully that what we are set to do in the next year is going to reflect that. Uh, the the list of these
012selection committees in front of you, you may may know some of these names if not all of them. Pam Spaulding, Jim Finley, Peter Richards, Nancy Grimaldi, Mark Demello, Don Leclair, Susan Pierre, Ashley Robbins, Mark Dennis Kutcher, Margaret Leclair, Robin Roberts, and myself. There's quite a lot of detail in here as to how the nomination process will work and what the charge is for the selection committee. It's probably going to be tweaking involved when the selection committee gathers for the first time. I kind of put together kind of a rough idea. Belichick called me and because said be careful that because it may always turn out the way you think it's going to. So, we're going to going to probably address that. I I knew somebody would smile when I said that. Scott, so uh I
013don't want to take up any more of your time. I'm hoping that maybe wet your appetites a little bit for what we want to get done with this. My hope is that we have our first induction ceremony in the late part of winter basket basketball season of 2026-2027. Uh Some schools do their induction ceremonies at football games. I like the general feel of being inside. Uh, and and also it's the time of year it's I thought was maybe a little bit better because we are going into tournament time and I think the enthusiasm for sports that time of year is is is elevated maybe more than other times of the year. So, if you had any questions tonight, but you notice I put an email and and my phone number at the bottom of that
014page. Please reach out to me if you have questions, suggestions, ideas. I'd be happy to share those with you to give you maybe if you personally looking for a little more background as to how I came up with this, I'd be happy to share that with you. Uh well, like I said, I don't want to take up any of your more of your time tonight. So, I appreciate uh I appreciate your time and and your indulgence and hope that we can move forward with this with your approval. Now, I know I know Tanya was going to suggest that we raise about $4,000 of school money to do this, but I don't think that's going to happen. But, I know that is the inevitable question seriously and I understand the budget situation. I spent plenty of
015time at those desks going through the same issues as you all are this year. So, this is why uh we've I'm I'm going to do a presentation for the sports boosters in early April and I'm going to go to the sports boosters and ask them if they would fund us for the first year. The first year tends to be a little bit pricey. Uh I I know James said that Mount Blue when they started in '22, it was about $3,000 to get everything up and going and then they maintain it with another 1,500 every year and and Origin covers theirs. Vining Vining covers Brewer. We don't have the ITs in the Otis Mills to do the things that we used to take for granted in the days when paper mills existed. So, we are going
016to approach us the sports boosters and and hopefully we get a backing from them. If they don't, we'll we'll take a second look at it, but thank you very much. Is there anything I can answer tonight? I'd be happy to do it. >> Any Andrew. Go ahead. >> Um Are you looking for any permanent space or you looking like for like a rotating exhibit? >> yeah. Well, >> still in process? Do you want to say anything? >> Yeah, I haven't really had a chance but I've talked about it a little bit with Marcus to how we would set this up. My feeling is that at some point it will require that. It may not necessarily have to be this year because we have we really don't need it until we have a little bit of
017a back a back log of plaques and those types of things. So, I'm assuming that at some point we will I think when that need arises then we will address it accordingly but I just didn't want to get the the cart before the horse as they say. So. >> Other questions? Tanya. >> I think this is a great idea. And I've known Clint for many many years. This will be very well organized if he has anything to do with it. I think it's a great way to maybe get the community involved in the schools again because you're going to have some older people with the way backs and get the younger people. I just think this is a really good idea. Really good idea. >> I I can say Tanya, I uh when I put
018these names together for a selection committee, uh obviously I I kind of wanted to be with people that I've worked with in the past in various capacities and it does represent that. Uh I approached uh I think 12 people. The only two refusals I had were for geographical purposes. One of them was Mike Luciano who many of you here may know Mike that I worked with at Toyota Smelting. I did not realize that when Mike is not in Florida, he is now in West Burke or somewhere and Mike said he would have loved to have done it. And the other one the other one uh again it was a geographical issue who someone who no longer lives in Jay and felt like it would be a more appropriate if he did. Uh so, but that
019was the only two. Everybody else uh embraced it like you and Tanya, and I and I think we all feel like this is a It's nice to be able to to do something positive. So, when people read about Spruce Mountain, they're going to be saying, "Wow, hopefully this this gets off the ground and and and gives us a a good look." And I know if you uh if you have an opportunity, Marana Cook started theirs, and I'm not sure what the age of it is. I don't think it goes back to far, but if you go on to the Marana Cook's uh sports hall of fame, it's pretty impressive. So, I I hope we can match and maybe excel and beat that. So, and uh just a shout out to Scott. Scott did take the
020time. I did a I did a rough draft, and and I know it's it's it's busy during budget season, and uh Scott did take the time to go through my first draft and help me fine-tune it to address some of the things that I didn't wasn't able to on the first shot around. So, thank you to Scott, and also to my friend James Black. So. >> I want to thank you for the great idea and input. I agree with everything Tanya said. I think anything that brings our communities together, um and it brings it unites Tigers and Andies under the Phoenix is is always a positive thing. And it does set great goals for our own kids now to look forward to, and for our coaches. It's wonderful. So, anything you need, please. >> Thank
021you, Eileen. >> I do like this idea. Um just [clears throat] a a thought, cuz I'm a big band guy, but I didn't know if there was any thoughts of down the road maybe including the support of cheerleaders and uh and the marching bands that have gone on and supported and and gotten people jacked up for the game. >> One of the questions if not the first question, certainly one of the questions that I that I did ask James is when you did your board presentation, what was the first thing that they asked you? The first thing they asked is exactly what you're referencing right now. And it it it's it's not to exclude them. I just think it at this point I can only take on so much of what I have for resources
022and time available to me, but I think I'm hoping I'm hoping that this gives other people in different disciplines ideas and saying, "Gee, we could do that with what we do." And then maybe at some point in time we can incorporate this all into one big entity. So, the the the discussion and the and the idea is out there floating around. So, yep. Yep. >> Any questions for Clint? >> Okay, I will accept a motion regarding the Sports Hall of Fame. >> So moved. >> Second. >> You've got to make you've got to make a motion, Tanya. You've got to make a motion. >> Okay, I make a motion that we support the creation of the Hall of Fame. Second. >> Any discussion? All those in favor? >> Aye. >> All those opposed? Motion carries.
023>> Thank you, Sherry. Thank you, all. >> No public comments. Okay. Uh Mason. >> Hi. Uh can you hear me? >> [snorts and clears throat] >> Can you hear me? >> Not really. >> Can you hear me now? >> Yeah. >> Okay. There we go. Thank you for Thank you. You Thank you. Uh so, the robotics team competed at the New New England District Pine Tree event at Falmouth this past weekend. The The team performed well during the the course of the competition and uh during playoffs was elected as a um captain during playoffs. The team also uh came home with the team sustainability award, which supports the teams um um The team was uh recognized for their um sustainable um uh bumpers uh project uh which was um essentially um creating a new way
024of of protecting robots during matches uh for the league. Um and that's going to for uh that's going to the um league um as of uh um this last competition. Um the Spurwink High School Unified Team uh robotics team also competed this past weekend. Um this is the first unified team in in the district. They came home with the outstanding robot performance award um from Special Olympics Maine. We are also looking forward to starting up uh spring the spring season here at Spurwink High School very soon. >> Thank you, Mason. Any other board comments? Okay. Scott. >> Good evening. Uh I just wanted to give you a brief update on the lawsuit with the Maine Human Rights Commission. On March 6th, our lawyer Jack Baldacci from Stevens Smith Trial Lawyers filed a motion to dismiss
025with the courts. Legal fees since actually signing with Steve Smith Trial Lawyers has been $2,515, in which our insurance company has covered the whole thing. I attended a Western Maine Superintendents meeting this past week. Most of the discussion at that meeting took place around budgets throughout the state. I did a lot of work the last couple weeks getting budgets together. Um also, I chaired the Western Maine recertification meeting last week, where we approved two area administrators' initial plans for certification, and we also approved one administrator's final plan for certification. >> Questions for Scott. >> Um so, it's not so much a question, but I just wanted to take a moment for us to appreciate everything Scott has done. He doesn't get the thanks he deserves, and just wanted to give you a shout-out for all
026of your hard work. I know we thank teachers, which they do deserve, all of the other staff, but often we we tend to neglect you, Scott. I'm so sorry, but I just wanted to thank you for everything. >> Other questions for Scott. Thank you. Darcie. Not No Darcie. Oh, unable to attend. I'm sorry if I'd read ahead. Uh Sherry. >> Good evening. I'm going to try and have my voice last for these few minutes. Um we currently have 345 students in special education. This is an increase of one since my February report. This does include 22 open referrals. Um the primary school currently has 77 students in special education with 10 open referrals. This is an addition of one at the primary school. The elementary school has 88 students. This is an addition of three
027with six referrals in process. The middle school has 73 students, which is a decrease of one with four referrals in process. And the high school currently has 107 students, which is a decrease of two with two referrals in process. We currently have 14 students out of district in special purpose schools for day treatment programming. Three from the primary, three from the elementary, four at the middle school, and four at the high school. This continues to be the same as my previous report. However, we did have one student move out of district and another student move into district. So, we stayed the same. They're just different grade levels. Um and we are obligated when somebody is placed at a special purpose program, we are legally obligated to continue um that day treatment programming. If we had
028day treatment in our district, we could provide it here, but we don't. Um and the cost we used to and the cost was um pretty big and staffing issues um led to it no longer existing. Um current positions, we continue to have three EdTech one positions open at the high school. As Jenna spoke about last meeting and Mason talked about tonight, Rob Taylor in the blue crew mentored our first unified robotics team. They competed the Pine Tree competition on Sunday, March 8th at Falmouth High School. The unified robotics team won their competition's most prestigious award and was named outstanding team for their demonstration of meaningful involvement and gracious professionalism >> [clears throat] >> by providing the best opportunity for participants to appreciate each other's gifts on and off the field. Uh a special thank you
029to Cherry Poirier and Sean Jagir for providing supervision to our athletes during this event and of course to Rob Mason and the rest of the blue crew for providing this opportunity for our students. >> [clears throat] >> We hope this is the start of more unified activities being offered at RC 73. Questions for Sherry. >> [clears throat] >> I'm thrilled to know congratulations. Please let them know on behalf of the board. We are so proud of them and what they've accomplished. This is big and I've been wondering when we would start more of the unified activities. I'd love to see it in the basketball is a real easy one not easy but simpler to get into. >> When I was still at the high school Mark tried to start unified basketball and there was not
030any interest for the athletes. Um and but what Rob and the blue crew have found that at Mount Blue they use it as they use their club time during the day and so that is a lot of hurdles for parents transportation you know aftercare appointments things like that for some of the athletes as well as getting our partners involved because they all have their own sports and activities after school. So using that club time I think will be the best solution for everyone. >> Awesome. It's it's great. Thank you so much for doing that and for all involved. Other questions for Sherry. >> Thank you. >> Patrick. >> Good evening. So it's a sad day at the elementary school. We closed this the sliding hill. So it's it was some sadness and some heartbreak but
031they'll be okay. But I did want to thank God's Hardware again. Um they donated 30 sleds, which is huge success. So, we're looking forward to using those sleds and the sleds that we have and doing that all again next year. Um and doing some other things. I have some things in the works that I don't want to share right now, but um it may have to do with uh Spruce Mountain Ski Area. So, hold on for that one. Um so, we talked about the free book fair. Phoebe got me a number. Um we gave out Wait, what is this we? That was the royal we. Phoebe gave out 5,770 books to our 288 kids. So, thank you very much, Phoebe. >> [applause] >> So, we've been doing our read-a-thon Our read-a-thon is our biggest money
032maker that I get to provide things for the kids from our field day to the t-shirts for the field day to equipment for the playground that they use to if we want to take the kids to a movie. So, anything that we do that's not within the regular budget comes from our read-a-thon. Um as of the last time I looked, we had raised $8,490. So, we're $200 short of what we did last year. Which I told the kids if they beat last year, we're going to have an outdoor play day. So, um the kids at the elementary have read for 21,758 minutes between reading at home and our reading time in the at the elementary where we drop and read stop and read. Um so, that's averaging about 75 minutes per kid. Um so, that's
033been fantastic and the kids are excited. Um behavior behavior has been I literally I don't want to jinx myself. I don't want to jinx myself. I've I know, but I have to. We've had a really good year. You know, we've had some changes bringing in the Dean of Students, um him working with our step room, which is our regular ed um behavior room. Last year we had 108 suspensions between out of school and in school, and right now we're sitting at 30 total for 10 out of school and 20 in school. Um we've been able to use the staff and Matt and and basically help kids because you know, behaviors just telling us what they need. You know, and trying to help them help us understand what they need at that time, but be able
034to keep them in school, be able to keep them learning. Um sometimes they just need 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, an hour. Um but to be able to keep them in school and keep them learning, it's been a And I've I've had multiple teachers come up and just tell me that it just feels different this year at the elementary school. Um not saying that we don't have our challenges and that we haven't had our issues, we have. But it's been a really nice change to be able to help kids with their lagging skills and the struggles that they have, that be able to provide that support and be able to provide it in school that we don't have to put them out or um so that's been really good. The last 2 days um
035I've been gone. Um I've been in Maine 14 years and everybody said, "You really need to go to Samoset." So I got a few years ago I did the safety school safety course through Eastern Maine or yeah, Eastern Maine. And they just had a safety conference at Samoset, so I went. Um and it was really good. You know, you go to these conferences and sometimes it's can be hit or miss. Um so the two things that I got from it is is uh the state um which we're going to partner with does restorative practices and they'll provide it to the district for free. And they're going to give us 3 to 5 years of a mentor to help come in, look at what we're doing, right? Help us improve what we're doing. Um also help
036us with the mentor that can come in and train staff. Staff will get uh continue, you know, credits so that they can recertify. Um so we're going to look at doing that for the next 3 to 5 years. And they said if you go past that it's it's not a big deal cuz they have mentors in in all of the in all of the counties. Um so we'll do that. Um the other thing is I brought back we had a one of the speakers was a gentleman who lost his daughter in the plat plat canyon shooting, Colorado, which was a few years after Columbine. And I don't have any idea how he was able to do this. But he created a foundation and it provides schools free of charge. You don't And like he said,
037we don't even ask for an email. We just want people to use it. And it's basically safety protocols for schools that they've looked at, you know, the shooting there, the shooting at Columbine, across the country, um in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies and just having a standard way of safety protocols for districts. Um so I did bring that back and I shared it with Scott, Wayne, and Anthony. Um and it's and it's called uh you know, it's it's based on everything he's learned in his 20-odd years being um a survivor of that. So that was really good. Um school attendance last time I was here was 288 and it's still 288. >> Questions for Patrick. >> Uh I've The Read-a-Thon is definitely one of my favorite um fundraisers and it's fantastic that it's doing
038so well. Um Please keep us posted if they do end up uh breaking last year's fundraising amount. I think that is absolutely phenomenal. >> Yes, they're they're rocking it. They're really doing well. And that just goes to prove also that the community is super generous. You know, cuz it's a lot of people. Last time I looked we had over 200 225, I think, different individuals that donated. So. >> Uh when do donations close for this? Cuz I don't want to see the kids not beat their record. >> Well, it's supposed to close Monday, but I think I can keep it open till Wednesday. >> Okay. I So, I didn't get to that yet. My apologies. >> It's on our Facebook page. >> I I will double I think I liked it and then other things
039were going >> web web It's on the district Facebook, too. >> to it. Secondly, um anything more we can learn about school safety? Awesome. Awesome, cuz we >> I mean, if you guys You guys can go check out the website. It's called um I love you guys. And it was based on the last text that they got from their daughter. >> Mm. Thank you so much. Appreciate that. >> Yep. >> Any other questions for Chris? >> Uh >> And don't worry, my wife's name is Chris. We answer to both. >> Andrew. >> I just want to say I'm really glad that the kids get the sledding experience. And I uh pass along the appreciation to the donor of the sleds and everything. And they were very grateful that uh things have worked out and that
040the kids have had a good time and they could be a part of it. >> Well, I may be back looking for skis, so keep that in mind. >> Maybe if the kids exceed their reading goals, the principal could do something really fun with his hair in front of the whole school. >> Well, I did that one time, and then you people in Maine said, "Why don't you kiss a pig?" And I was like, "We don't do that in Wyoming. We're taught not to." But >> You know, just let me know. I'm willing. >> Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Shave his head, he'll look like Uncle Fester. >> [laughter] >> Michelle, have you discussed with the kids, or are they aware I I've heard you drop the term ski a couple times. Are the kids
041aware of any >> No. >> Okay. >> It's top secret. Top secret. >> me to teach him how to ski, and the finances are a little high on that. Um so, I'm trying to find out a way. >> Uh I don't want to give a Okay, so I'll give you a little hint. >> Yeah. >> So, I have talked to some individuals that Well, an individual who's on the board for ski mountain or Spruce Mountain, and I told him that it that we don't have a Nordic team, I believe, next year at the high school, and that bothers me a lot that we don't have kids to do that, plus our Alpine team. I just feel like we should have a bigger team. And we have all of these kids that once we put them
042on snowshoes and sledding, love it. Like kids that we didn't couldn't get outside or didn't want to go outside, or sometimes not that we actually did this. You literally had to drag them outside. But they want to go outside now. They want to go snowshoeing. They want to go. So, I would like to I think if you saw in the paper a few weeks back, I I can't remember where it was, but they included skiing in their their PE curriculum. So, we're Mr. Toner has been reaching out to ski areas to see if we can get old rental stuff that they're getting rid of that would fit our kids. So, we're working on that plus working on the Spruce Mountain thing and then trying to figure out I talked to Norma about how could we
043get kids to the mountain and back when we can literally see it almost from the school. So, we're a lot of moving parts that we're working on right now. I just feel like we have a mountain. We should be I mean, we should be killing it at skiing and Nordic and and it's and it's yeah, but it's not cheap. So, so we're trying to figure it out. So, if I come back asking for a little money, just be kind. >> Thank you, Patrick. >> Thank you. >> Chris. >> [clears throat] >> Good evening. Tony, I'd recommend the target special if you get him to do it. >> [laughter] >> Um the middle school has a current enrollment of 267. Our year-to-date daily attendance average this time of year is still at 93.67% which last time
044was 94. We'll round up. Um tonight and tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. are the performances of the middle school play Shrek Jr. Um this Saturday we'll be hosting the Franklin County father-daughter dance at the middle school and I know tickets use are still available if anybody wants to go. Um March 17th some selected eighth grade students will be taking the NAEP test which is the National Assessment of Educational Progress. And March 20th is the end of our second trimester. Uh currently we're starting sign-ups for our spring sports. And right now last time I looked, we had about uh 30 kids in tryouts for each one of the the sports, which is a huge number for So. Uh eighth grade students and teachers are making plans for their volunteer days. So, over the next month they'll be
045going out. Uh they'll be going to the nursing homes. Uh they're going to go down and read to the primary students. And then they're going to be uh participating in a community yard cleanup. Uh last Friday uh we welcomed 20 mentor and mentee teachers from across the state. And they came in and observed some of our classrooms. And these are people from near and far. All the way from the county all the way down to the Portland area. Um after that I re- received several compliments from these visiting educators about how impressed they were with our school culture. The strong rapport between our teachers and students and the positive atmosphere throughout the building. Um it's always really meaningful to hear feedback from colleagues who work in the same trenches and it can truly appreciate the
046work being done. Uh hearing them say "Wow." about what they observed speaks volumes about the uh dedication and the hard work that the middle school staff has been putting in over the last couple years. Um we've had 30 out of school suspensions and 22 in school suspensions so far this year. And at this time last year we had 44 out of school and 23 in school. >> I'm very excited to see Shrek tomorrow. My niece is the donkey. >> [laughter] >> Look at you. >> I can't wait to see it tomorrow afternoon, either. I primary came out sorry today. Elementary's tomorrow morning. So. And then we'll see it we'll see it in the afternoon. >> Okay. I love that choice of of play. That's a great one. I bet primary just absolutely ate that up
047today. >> Yeah. They did. Yep. >> I have a question. And I'm thrilled with the reports that you had from other mentor mentee programs. How did this come about? >> [laughter] >> So, on Thursday afternoon >> Would you rather I not ask that? >> No, no. It's It's great. So, UMF and UMO had collaborated last year about going into and having these mentor mentees go observe in other schools. Um somehow uh we were on the list of doing it. They reached out to our mentee and mentor program here. They We looked for a few few people that were volunteers. I said, "Yeah, people can come to our our school." Uh when I first originally heard about it, I was like, "Oh, you know, we'll have you know you know maybe six, eight people come in."
048Thursday afternoon, I get an email from the the fellow that was organizing it all and said, "You got 28 coming." And I was like, "What?" So, um it was kind of surprising, but we got them organized. I ended up having to ask a couple teachers on the fly if they could um take in take them in their classroom. Everybody was awesome, and they were pretty impressed. So, when you hear that from those professionals that are coming from other schools going, "What are you guys doing here?" is amazing. >> That is a huge >> Yeah. >> huge kudos to your staff and you for creating that culture. And when you hear it, you're right, absolutely. When you hear that from other sources that are also doing the same thing. >> Yeah. >> And are are are
049just thrilled with what they see. Um you've created a snowball that's going to have such a positive effect, and I thank you all. Thank your staff and you. >> I will. I thank them every day, and hopefully we can keep it we can keep it going and maintain it, make it bigger and better. So. >> Other questions for Chris? >> Thank you. T.J. >> Hi, everyone. Well, that one is loud. So, our enrollment it I just to go off from that. So, they told us Thursday night on that and we had Phoenix Fest that Friday. So, and that is when we do all of our winter carnival stuff and we had all those people in here and it was just a really good opportunity for them to see what our school does and they were
050very impressed and I will say that our Phoenix Fest was definitely one of the best ones we've ever had. We had the National Guard here. They were interacting with all the kids doing events and it was just a really nice day and our attendance was actually probably the best we've had for a Phoenix Fest cuz normally Phoenix Fest we have kids that will say, "Hey, I'm going here or there and I'm not going to come to school and or I got to work." So, but this time was pretty cool. It was fun. It was fun. So, enrollment is 418. It was 418 last time. And our discipline stats that we have, we have uh phone related detentions. We have 22. I will say it's gotten way better with that. Like that's that's for this quarter.
051So, 22 office detentions for phones. That's a pretty good thing. It's not a bad thing. Um sent from class, we had nine for detentions. Uh and that is for disruptions and things like that. Phone suspensions, we're still at eight. We haven't suspended anybody since the last time I talked to you about it. So, that's really cool. And then we had other suspensions. We had six this this past quarter. So, and those those vary from many different things and I'd rather not because it's such a small number to you know, then people would determine what it was for. So, I'm not going to do that. Um quarter three attendance, pretty pretty happy with this. We're down to 13.2% of absences. So, that's better than it was it was 15 last time. So, we're we're looking a
052little bit better. And I think honestly, Phoenix Fest had a lot to do with that. Kids If if you had a chance the last board meeting that we had, it was a budget meeting that we had, the kids decorated the hallways. If you had a chance to walk through there, it it was amazing. Those kids stayed until 7:00 at night most nights. So, and our custodians weren't very happy, but they they they dealt with it and they they're they were accepting of it. So, Past events that I I thank you Mason for talking about the robotics and the unified robotics team. We did have last weekend our one-act play for regionals up to Skowhegan. Great great job by all. They did a really nice job. They were a little over on time. So, when you
053become a little over time, you get disqualified. And that's what it was and it was just a hair. So, you know, it's just how that is and the kids did a wonderful job. We have some really good actors. And and to go back to what you were saying about the band and whatnot, I know what our band has done in the past and it really is a neat thing to be able to recognize them as well as our our actors. We have some very successful theater theater people in our area. So, really need to start thinking about what we can show off for them. Phoenix Fest, who won the whole thing? Juniors. Juniors won this year, which they came from behind. They weren't doing so good at the beginning of the week. They lost the
054tug-of-war. They lost, you know, all the different things. And then all of a sudden on Phoenix Fest, the day that we had all of our events, they crushed it. And they had a I would say they had the largest amount of kids and that's including freshmen. So, freshmen can't drive anywhere so they're stuck here. So, but they had quite a few kids too. It was really it was really nice opportunity. Upcoming events we are starting end of the quarter comes here on the on the 19th. We then right after that we start in with ASVAB cuz we still do the ASVAB here at Spruce Mountain High School. It's a great opportunity. ASVAB is the military competency test. We do it during the sophomore year so it doesn't count towards the military. But what it does
055is gives them an aptitude test for what they may be interested in. And there's a whole process that goes along with that. So, we have we have the National Guard comes in. They'll give a they'll give the test then a week later they'll come in and they'll explain what they got and then they'll give an example of what jobs they might be interested in and where they might want to go with that. Including the military as well as colleges and things like that. It's a great opportunity and I haven't met a kid that didn't think it was a good test. You know, they they take it and they're like, oh I know this because it's it's hands-on stuff. It's a really good aptitude test. Scholarships so if you have a senior or a senior who
056is a relative of yours, you need to encourage them to start filling out the applications for scholarships. We the deadline is right before April vacation. Last year we gave out nearly $360,000. So, and this like I said last time encourage them to start filling out the the forms. It helps out a lot and these kids will definitely use it. So, that's all I have. >> Questions for T.J. Michelle. I have two things that are a bit unrelated. Uh the first one is my one of my kids came home talking about a club that helps connect scholastics and college interests. >> Mhm. >> And touring colleges >> Yes. >> Is that >> Miss Wasikun is doing that? >> Okay. >> So, she it's a college course that she teaches uh during our Phoenix time and students
057can sign up for it ahead of time and they'll go through the college acceptance part. They'll go through what to expect from what types of majors. They'll do visits to different colleges. Um it's been a really really good opportunity for kids. >> That's absolutely fantastic. >> Yes, it is. It is. Yep, and thank you for uh bringing that up. Miss Wasikun has done and if you did guys don't know Miss Wasikun, she's one of our guidance counselors. Um she's been with us for about four or five years now. Just a a top-notch person and she works well with students. So, yes, thank you. >> And then um the other piece is uh related to behavior. I know that you have a lot on your plate and I know that you see all kinds of variances
058that you need to attend to. So, I uh just wanted to first of all say thank you very much for for being attentive to the small and the large. >> Thank you. >> I really appreciate that. >> Thank you. >> Um and then the other piece is is there Do you notice sort of a trend as far as like during these months is it harder for students? Do we battle a little bit more with behaviors and then do you see it decline again or >> So, >> like what is that sort of like big picture? >> So, it it is uh I would say March, right around now, is when things start to get worse. If anybody's done any type of uh teaching or in schools, March is that elevated time. And it's because there's
059really not much for them to do. That's why we schedule Phoenix Fest during that time. That's why we schedule other things that, you know, dances and things like that during this time to give them a more of an out. Um but I would say that compared to last year, it's definitely better. Um it's definitely better this year and I think it had to do with our student council who put together such an awesome Phoenix Fest. Right? The student council is the one that that leads that. I have nothing to do with it. It is kid-run. So, and those kids come in and and do such a great job. So, thank you. Thank you very much. >> Um you mentioned detentions cuz of the phones. So, my question is, and it's probably for the other schools,
060too, is one, how is your policy on enforcing it? Is there like warnings or is it straight detention? And how does that differ amongst the schools? >> we're at the point now, at the beginning it was warnings. So, the first couple weeks was warnings. Uh we were teaching them, you know, like, uh you're not supposed to have that in your ear as you're walking down the hallway. Um you're not supposed to have your phone. Your phone is mine now until the end of the day and then we call home and we we do that. That's how we're doing it right now and that's what's in the policy. Um the detentions if a kid gets caught with their phone and they come in and we say, "Hey, uh let me have your phone for the rest
061of the day." Great. You have two detentions for that. It'll be after school. Um we'll schedule that out and then they then they get their phone at the end of the day. The kids that get suspended are the ones that's like, "I'm not giving you my phone." Right? It becomes an insubordination. Um and then it then there's a suspension with that. We try to do in-school. However, the ones uh we've been through, they they made other mistakes as they were exiting. So. And it and then it escalates. But those things stopped. Like we haven't had that. Kids are just handed over the phone. They're like, "Yeah, Mr. Plourd, thank you." Uh "And how many detentions do I have? Oh, two? Okay, yep." So it's been It's been actually really good. And in the classrooms, I
062got to tell you, it has been a great addition to our school. Um kids now even in I will tell you, if you come into my cafeteria, you will not hear yourself think because they are talking. And they are so stinking loud. And me and Dan Latham is one of my uh one of the teachers that come in and and kind of keep it at bay. He's like, "I can't hear. I don't even know what's going on around me." Like it it it's one of those things and but it's been really good. And I think that's another thing that has actually impacted the better behaviors is just talking, having conversations. So, thank you for doing that. Yeah. So it's been good. Yeah. Anything else? >> Yes. Well, I did, but it flew out >> That's
063okay. >> Flew right out of my head. I'm thrilled about the um policy for phones. >> Yeah. >> Um I fully support that. >> Yeah. >> And >> It'll only get better, too. >> It will. >> Yeah. >> It will. >> Yeah. >> Um They're they'll learn through the school of whatever. Um they'll get it. >> And one thing I do want to say is I'm thankful that we didn't do those pouches. >> Yes. >> Cuz we're actually teaching kids how to do it without a pouch. >> Exactly. >> I mean, that's more of how it goes when you leave here and you go to college. You know, you got to put that phone in your pocket or you just don't take it with you, those types of things. So, yeah. >> It's It's if
064you're if we're talking about responsibility. >> Yes. >> And that's ultimately what we need, our responsible kids. >> Mhm. >> You have to use self-discipline. >> Yep. >> And that's a huge life lesson then we don't test on it or whatever. These are part of the things that we learn in that we have an education that's so important that you can't get it on a test result. I love the aptitude testing. I think that's great. Thank you for explaining that. And you got my sign language. >> Yes, I did. Yes. >> okay, good. >> [laughter] >> Um I just want to I hope this all continues to go in that positive direction. And yeah, good job. >> Just impressed with it. And And you know, the kids that I got to tell you, we had
065a faculty meeting today. This is just something that came into my head right now. We had faculty meeting today and today's the end of the quarter, so we start choosing our students of the quarter, our Phoenix Award winners and things like that. And it's nomination day. So, the teachers have to nominate. We had so many nominations of outstanding kids. Like this is like the amount of kids that were nominated today. It was It made my heart feel good about our kids and it made my heart feel good about our staff recognizing it. So, it's it's a It's a good day. >> All the way around. >> It was a good day today. Yes. Thank you. All set? Oh, Phoebe? >> Yes. Um I have heard nothing but fantastic things all about the spirit week, uh
066particularly about Hungry Hungry Hippos. >> Yes. >> Um >> Yes, I'm sure. >> [laughter] >> I didn't know if there was any pictures that we were going to put up on our website of the events because I think that would be phenomenal. >> Right now, they're making sure that they got everything in for the yearbook and then we're going to then put some stuff out on on our Facebook pages. >> Awesome. Thank you. >> Thank you. Yes. >> Thank you, TJ. >> Thank you. >> Uh so, I really don't have that much Scott and I met on the agenda and negotiations uh they're ongoing. Um please go and see the middle school play. Shrek Jr. It should be hilarious from what I hear. Okay, I will accept a motion on the second and final reading
067of policy G B E F employee use of cell phone and other electronic communication devices. Discussion. All those in favor? All those opposed? Motion carries. I will accept a motion to enter into executive session pursuant to 1 M.R.S.A. 4056A to discuss a personnel matter. All those in favor? All those opposed? >> Mhm. >> Okay. Laura, can you put us back at 7:02? Thank you. I will accept a motion to nominate the Kaylee Stanley for the position of a special ed teacher at Spruce Mountain Primary School. >> Second. >> Discussion? All those in favor? >> I. >> All those opposed? Any abstentions? Motion carries. All right. So, we have a motion for the warrants, the 26-27 budget warrants, which Dawn will read. >> Yep. I move that the vote entitled vote to call a referendum for
068the purposes of budget validation and minor capital purposes, to approve the warrants and notices of public hearing for these purposes, and to authorize the notice of amounts adopted, be approved in form presented to this meeting, and that a copy of said vote be included with the minutes of this meeting. >> Do I have a second? Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I. >> All those opposed? Motion carries. Okay, so >> Don't forget to stay around to sign. It's very important that you guys sign all those things. You can stay right where you're sitting, and and Crystal will bring it up. Actually, she found out today that you still have a lot of things to sign, but nothing in comparison than in the past. Their actual one of the signatures that they need on everything
069is from Crystal's signature. Not everybody else's, but you still have to sign probably 15 to 20 things, but not 60 things, so we've broken it down for you a little bit. >> So, you have a Just a second, Elaine. You have pink sheet with uh your new hires, co-curricular resignations. Uh the next school board meeting is the 26th. >> Can I mention something about that? >> Yeah, at that meeting also, we'll be posting it in the three towns. Because we're doing the uh boiler and that most likely it's going to be paid through a bond, we have to have a hearing. So, what will happen that night is at 6:00 we'll have a hearing. It could take 10 to 15 minutes if people want to come. It has to be public if they want to
070ask questions about the boiler. As soon as that is done, then we will go right into the regular meeting that we have. We don't have to do anything separate other than that. But, we have to do that because of how it how we look into finance that. Still has to be voted by the voters, but we have to have a hearing ahead of time. >> Policy meeting March 23rd and the budget referendum meeting is April 2nd. Elaine, did you have some? >> Yeah, I did. Just some clarifying. Um on the new budget numbers that you gave us, the updated budget numbers, does How is Is that changed significantly any of the towns' individual numbers that you gave us prior to this? Okay, and what exactly again at this number is our percentage of increase? >>
071We have 3.18% overall. >> 3.18 >> Budget to budget. And the rate of inflation that we worked with It's right there. It's about the same. Okay, I just wanted to be sure that that we were still talking the same. I thank you. >> I do want people to know though when you That's budget to budget. The town of Jay's amount that they'll have to pay goes up 12.7%. The amount that Livermore has to pay if this passes goes up 8.7% and Livermore Falls goes up 5.3%. Cuz it's all based on evaluations and student population. Yeah, correct. Yeah. So even though we only control the budget to budget, which is the 3.1, it does change for the different towns. Jay's is 12.7%. >> Any other questions before I ask for a motion to adjourn? Thank you
072for that clarification. I'll accept a motion to adjourn. All those in favor? I. Thank you. As we said, stick around to sign the warrants, please. >> And if anybody has