001woman. Can you go back to my office and get >> Yes, I >> Good evening and welcome to the Scarboro Board of Education business meeting. The date is Thursday, November 6, 2025. Um, can everyone please join me for the pledge of >> allegiance? I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Wonderful. Thank you, Ray. Can we call the attendance, please? Yes, >> Miss Jacobs. >> Here, >> Mr. Kellaher. >> Present. >> Miss Lindstöm >> here. >> Miss Mau >> here. >> Mr. Rockinstein. >> Oh, yeah. He'll be late. >> Miss Tarpenion >> here. >> Mr. Trapini Huff >> here. >> Miss RKina >> here. >> Miss Clarett >> here. >> Wonderful.
002Thank you. >> Sorry. Agenda item 4.0 is approval of the October 16th, 2025 workshop and business meeting minutes. With no objections, we will approve them as presented. All right. October five, October five, agenda item five is October resignations, retirements, and new hires. This is um our monthly non-action item. Um that uh just I would I would uh suggest you take a look at the your meeting materials. Those are included in there. Agenda item 6.0 is adjustments to the agenda. Is there any adjustments this evening? >> No. >> Perfect. Thank you. Agenda item 7.0 is a spotlight recognition. 7.1 is the staff spotlight rec recognition. So for this, I'll turn it to Charlotte and Jillian. All right. I will be presenting that tonight. Um. All right. Here we go. So this evening we have a very
003special spotlight award winner who is in the audience that is Jeffrey Moer. And so I I'm going to read some things that uh folks have said about him. But first I just want to say that the person who nominated him was Jessica. Oh, sorry we're a little behind. Jessica Dumace, thank you because I was definitely going to mess that up, but um All right, so Jessica said had a lot to of nice things to say about Jeff. Jeff is a uh sorry music teacher uh here in the district. Um and so uh and does a lot of other things including this year directing part of the musical. Right. Yeah. All right. very exciting. Um, and so I'm just going to read off a few of the things that were said about Jeff. Um, the SMS
004course teacher, Mr. Leurge, uh, wanted to highlight his extensive career and and achievements he wrote. Throughout his still young career, Jeff Moer's contributions to coral music in the state of Maine and beyond have been unparalleled. And so much of that work happens right here in Scarbo. When Jeff was hired into as the director of choir at uh Scarbor High School in January of 2021, there were only 17 students in chorus and at that time disproportionately low number for one of the largest school populations in the state. However, from day one, Jeff has worked tire tirelessly to make a course the type of class that students were excited to join, and they have joined in droves. In less than 5 years, enrollment at the high school coral music program has quadrupled uh expanding to include three
005separate ensembles and various voicings and academic levels. Not only does Jeff make course a class that students enjoy, but he is so uh also creative creates an environment where students feel safe, encouraged, and are academically driven and have a strong desire to succeed. Every year, dozens of Jeff's students, more than half, if you're counting, audition for um and are accepted into a combination of district, state, and regional and even um na national level honors festivities. And then uh Jeff is also always out in the world uh with these kids. He is constantly on buses and sometimes planes taking students to auditions, competitions and music festivals ensuring they have the full experience. He spends time at his job and is clearly dedicated to our scar bro music students. What truly sets Jeff apart in this is
006the deep respect and affection for this his students his his students have for him. Whether they're baking him birthday cakes or painting portraits or pulling good humored pranks, it's very it's clear that they recognize and appreciate how much he gives. Jeff Moer, my friend, deserves a thousand trophies for his dedication, and I'm a little jealous. Carrie Becker. Um, and then finally, for all the reasons above and many more, this is why I, Jessica, Oh, no. I'm going to have to say it again. Jace nominated Jeff for the staff spotlight award. His talent and passion for what he does is unmatched. and I'm so grateful to get to work alongside him and to have him on our team here in the arts department at SHS. Thank you again for all you do for the students and
007the program. All right. And so we would like to present you with an award if you wouldn't mind coming up. Charlott's got to get the picture. >> A that's so nice. >> What an exciting. >> Oh yeah. Can you go to the microphone? >> Sorry. So everybody can hear when they watch back. >> Yeah, for sure. >> Very big viewing audience. >> Uh thank you very much. And I had no official remarks. prep prepared. What an exciting week to teach in Scar Bro and to to be in Scar Bro, of course with the referendum and I know that's a big topic tonight and exciting to be there. Um but also to see the growth and so that's really the best part of it all is that starting with 17 and I was counting between Wentworth
008and middle school and high school and we're over 250 programwide now uh in our coral program and that's just so exciting to see that growth. We have tremendous administrative support. So, thank you to the administration, tremendous board support, thank you to the board, uh, as well as tremendous community support. And so, that is so exciting, particularly excited to see in this school project, um, those band and courserooms that are coming up for the middle school as well. And so, we're super excited to see continued growth at the middle school and the high school. So, thank you for all you do. It's a very nice award for me, but it's really a reflection of all the work that you guys do every day. So, thank you. you think. >> Are there any comments for for Jeff?
009Yeah, please. I think the work we do every day really serves to support teachers like you who go above and beyond what is necessary to fulfill their job duties and invest in our students. And I think this district has a strong focus on sports and we're super proud of all of our athletes. Um, and I think it's really important to recognize that for many students, arts and singing is the re is their why, right? Their why to go to school. And if you can hook a kid on a why, you can make a huge impact in their life at school, but way beyond. And I know having heard your name over and over and over again in positive glowing terms about what a difference you have personally made by investing your time and energies in
010our program. I mean the growth that growth is unprecedented. That growth in that program is due to your efforts and we sincerely appreciate and thank you for that. >> Comments. >> I just want to um echo what FA said. That was very beautiful. I can't I can't um do any better than that. But I also want to add um you know at the start of this year um this school year um we did have some difficulties with the musical and we heard from a lot of anxious students almost immediately after the decision was um was shared with them and um anxious about how this would go on and what would they do and some of them were seniors and getting ready to graduate and so the fact that you stepped up and stepped in when
011they needed you the most speaks volumes to you. So thank you. Thank you. And I know that this happened before um this came in before um >> before that happened. So that was really a um an interesting I was telling Jillian and Charlotte it was a kind of a poetic justice timing because we had gotten that we had received this and chosen you and then this happened and right about the same time and um it just really speaks to your character and how important you are to to us and the students and um thank you. Thank you for that. I I don't know what we would have done if you wouldn't have stepped in and helped. So, thank you very much. Thank you and congratulations. >> All right. Agenda item 8.0 is the superintendent report.
012So, Diane. >> Yeah. >> All right. Well, good evening everyone. Um, can you move that? Sure. >> Thank you. Um uh I'm going to just start off with our uh usual monthly enrollment reports. So you can see that our enrollment is hanging really steady. Um um and you know certainly you can um use last month's slide deck as a comparison. The other piece um just to let folks in the public know is we do have our enrollment published on our website. Um and it's not just the enrollment for the current year. you can really take a very long historical look at our enrollment um and and what that looks like and you can also look in the um forward direction at what do our projections look like. So that's just a little >> public service
013announcement um about that. But what I really wanted um to talk about tonight um is uh just uh again um my overwhelming excitement uh for the uh approval of both referendum questions on Tuesday. I think this is a really pivotal moment uh for our district. Um and we are certainly really excited about moving that forward. And it's funny because um I think um as early as like before I even got to work yesterday, I was receiving um some communications about so what comes next? Um and so I just wanted to spend a very brief amount of time um just discussing that. Um, I had a brief meeting with our architect, Lisa Sin, uh, this afternoon and we have a more full meeting planned um, for Monday, which will include Shannon and Todd Jeepson, um, as
014well. And, um, basically what I wanted to communicate to you tonight is just kind of where are we right now um, and then what are our next steps in the process that are going to get us to the opening of our schools. And so this is a really great visual um that Lisa and Emily put together for us. And so there are really going to be three specific um um steps in the process, if you will. So we're going to spend about the next five or six months in design development. Um that's going to include meetings with staff, meetings with other stakeholders, and when I say other stakeholders, I mean like um members of our public safety, right? Because whenever we're planning a school, we really want to make sure that we're getting that lens
015from um our partners at the fire department, at the police department, because all they look at things from a different lens than we might um using their expertise. Um we'll include our IT director, so on and so forth. Um uh they will be putting together some cost estimates during that design development phase to help us make those decisions, right? because we know that um we have a finite amount of money to spend and so you know design development sounds really exciting um and it will be but it is not the sky is the limit right it is just like all of us do in our own personal lives and figuring out like here's our budget and then how are we selecting different components that stay within that and really completing that design at the um
016by the end of that phase, right? Because what we don't want to do is we don't want to be digging back into design decisions up until the point where um we're or beyond the point that we're sending things out to bid, right? So, um we've got a lot of really clear work to do over the next five or six months. Um once the design development is intact, then um our partners on the architectural side will get to work on all of the construction documents. Um and you know that will include all of the minute details um about each of the you know additions, renovations or new builds that we're doing so that uh we can have um a totality of documents that could be bid on. um because we have to be as specific as
017possible to ensure that the bids that we have um are also um as specific as they can be. And then um and then we'll move to the construction phase which I'll show you um in the next slide, a slide that you've probably seen before, but it's been several months. Um and that construction phase will vary according um to site. So if you want to move to that actually Rey. Um so this is just a reminder of um uh an approximate implementation schedule. I believe that you all saw this in our late June presentation just to give you an idea. Um and so um you know we we when you look at this particular chart and you see the yellow design and you say Diane just told us that design was five or six months. Um
018that design as it is on this chart includes those construction documents being designed, right? And so we're really looking for design development and all of the documentation needed to go out to bid being complete by the end of 2026. Um you know certainly if we can move that um along we will do that but we want to be really thoughtful about um making sure that we're as complete as possible. Um at the start of 2027 um projects will go out to bid. Um and then you can see that the construction timeline looks different um according to build. Um at the current time the idea is that um all three primary schools um would be in a construction phase at the same time. We've talked about that, right? there's a a huge savings um by um
019doing this all at one time versus phasing it in over multiple long years. Um and so if all goes according to plan, the expectation would be um that construction would be complete um by uh quarter 3 of 2029 for the primary schools. So that includes um addition and renovation for Blue Point and Pleasant Hill. and then that complete new build that we've shared with you. Um that's going to happen in two phases um at eight corners. The Wentworth project, as you can see, is a lot more limited um in terms of construction time because um as you know, we're building um a small Lego block um addition on to Wentworth. Um and so that work should happen um at a much quicker pace. um and will be completed by the first quarter of 2028. And
020then at the middle school um even with the uh twostory edition, which we are very excited that um we're able to really make sure that the district's needs are met for years to come. Um that construction phase should be complete by the uh first quarter of 2029. So obviously um this is our first blush um look at that, but I've had a lot of people in the community already asking about when are those next steps starting. So you know as we um come together and uh begin meeting next week, we'll talk about um these project schedules more in depth. We'll talk about uh the seating of a um a building committee and um and then we'll also discuss um an opportunity to bring the full board and town council into what those next steps will
021look like in the form of a workshop. So that is um what I wanted to be able to share this evening because again I know inquiring minds want to know um and we're really excited um for all of the work that we have ahead. >> Perfect. Are there any question? Thank you Dan. Are there any questions for Diane? >> Yes. Cy for your first time. Um I was wondering um you know given sort of uncertainty about tariffs and inflation and cost of materials how much of room wiggle room was built into that the estimate you know any worry I'm just worried I mean worried about how you know going waiting a year for it to go out to bid the economic picture might be very different. No, that's a great question and that came up
022um a lot in um in in ESPback meetings as well, right? Because I think um we've been seeing this for a while now and um the way the project was estimated to start with there there are some buffers built in um and some soft costs built in. And so, um, I think we're feeling really confident that we'll be able to achieve our goal within that. Um, obviously, uh, we are bound to stay within the amount of money that was approved by the voters. And so if that means that uh we do have to um value engineer some things to stay within that because um if things you know increase at a much higher rate than we might project we feel confident that there's still um that buffer there for us to do that. Um I
023we have a school solution referendum bullet on the agenda so we can talk a little bit more then about the committee and the things that are happening. But um one of the things that I would like to see these slides um go on our website and maybe um on our building page and maybe um adjust a little bit since we don't need the referendum anymore. But your letter that was so lovely um to the community like I could I would love to see that front page and then >> maybe other designs underneath. Yeah. So, we can work on that. >> Yeah. And and in tomorrow's newsletter to the community and to staff, um I will also have um these visuals in there along with the letter that I posted on the web page. So, um
024hopefully that helps people feel like um they're being communicated with. Um we certainly recognize that it's going to be uh really important for us to continue to communicate with our public throughout this whole project. Um certainly I think the cadence will change a bit. Um you know we've had a very super involved communications committee that has been providing weekly updates um or more than weekly updates and as you can imagine based on what I've described for the next year or so. We will not be providing weekly updates because there's just going to be a lot of work happening behind the scenes. But what we um probably will do is look to update the community on a monthly basis because I think that's probably um uh a better cadence for where we are in the project
025at this point. >> Yeah. >> Very good. Thank you. All right. Agenda item 9.0 is the chair report. Um I have um not too too much because I'll talk more when we get to the school solution. Um, we do first welcome I would like to welcome Cressy to your very first meeting. Um, you uh our newest school board member that was elected on Tuesday night um and sworn in and ready to ready to get going. Diane and I um have a meeting scheduled with her tomorrow to orient her to the board and get her um up to speed. And so from this point forward, the committees where I was filling in will now be Cresy. So, communications um and you and I we can talk through all of this, but the communications negotiations um I'm
026drawing a blank because I didn't write them down. We will talk I those two I know are yours. Um those and your leazison roles we will talk through tomorrow. Um but just for the board's information going forward those those committees where I was a fill in um will now be she'll be taking her taking her spot. So um congratulations and welcome and we're we're hoping you're excited to hit the ground running because we're excited to have a full board again and be ready to hit the ground running. So thank you for running and um we're happy to have you. Um last night um I did attend the town council meeting. Um it was uh council um Scyther Chair Scyther's last meeting. Um she has has now completed her term um on the council and has
027stepped down and so um I did attend and I did attend also to hear the um the results called which was really exciting. um we have worked a really long to hard time on this and so that was a really awesome moment to to be able to hear that um the results for the school called. Um, one thing that was said during the town manager report that I've um been thinking about ever since that I'm kind of um I'm interested in learning more about um he was talking about the senior tax relief uh dollars and the application process. And what we do know or what I at least do know from this um referendum process is that there are a lot of concerned people. How are we going to pay this bill? What does this
028look like? Um this is a lot of money. Um but when um uh Tom Hall reported on the number of applications, there was actually 13 less applications received this year. So um it seems a little strange to me just in light of the conversations that we've all heard around town. And so um I did message Tom today interested. He he did say last night he was going to do some research into what um why those numbers are what they are, why the numbers dropped. Um, so I'm interested to hear what that looks like. I know that we as a board are struggling with the loss of the leader and I'm not sure if this is a another um side effect of not having the paper anymore. I don't know if maybe um you know there's
029some more outreach that can be done. I don't know what's going to come of it, but I did say um that I know I would be interested in helping where possible and I'm sure that others would as well. So once we we kind of have some more information, um I'll be happy to report back on that. >> Yeah. Go ahead. >> And I just I don't know if you mentioned this or not, but the the amount available like uh per person went up, right? They increased the rebate for folks for next year. >> For next year. >> Yes. >> So I mean that they they did a lot of work around that. So it is interesting that >> Yeah. It is. It's interesting that it went down. just there's there seems to be something just
030>> doesn't quite add up >> but it's it's was passed fairly recently in terms of there was you know the increase in terms of the the relief so that is new um I don't know if that information how that information if it's really gone out or it's been an effort to communicate that you know um actively I don't know if like you know the >> there's a senior you know the senior lunches that are take place and so I don't know if there's a way to get that word out. >> Yeah, I h I suspect that the council just like we are challenged, I suspect that ch the council is also very similarly challenged with getting the word out. They did start a new program. Um they they mentioned they talked about it last night.
031They're calling it um cakes and counselors. >> Yes. >> And they're going they're taking cupcakes and they're going to people's neighborhood like community neighborhoods and and visiting with residents and talking with them and listening to um their concerns. and they started yesterday with the with the senior lunch and so that was their first um their first time and so those meetings there are some opportunities to engage with the with the senior population here in Scarboro. I just am not sure the reach you know I think we we all have this I I don't know that we realized fully perhaps the impact the leader had. I think we knew but didn't know if that makes sense. Right. Like what you don't really know until it's gone. And now that it's gone, we're all kind of, you
032know, we're trying to fill a void. Yeah. And so I I think that they're they have that same that same problem. I mean, we talk about it and you'll talk about it on communications. I mean, that's our big that was our big avenue, >> right, >> to reach people. >> Yeah. It's a big loss. >> Yeah. >> All right. Any questions for or any other questions for me? All right. So, agenda item nine uh 10.0 are our committee reports. Um our first is speaking of community outreach, Charlotte. Um so, on the same topic as um spotlight awards, we are looking for more spotlight uh nominations. So, I added a link in here and just wanted it to be known to the community that we are looking for nominations. And Mr. Moer, if you could pass
033that along to your colleagues. Um, and thank you Jillian for doing the report because my throat and uh voice is uh tired and I appreciate it. Um, uh, we are also planning our senior citizen appreciation dinner and Rey has been um, communicating with the Wentworth staff and we're looking at April 7th um, at the Wentworth cafeteria and we'll start to be recruiting volunteers. Um, and the next committee meeting for community outreach will be Thursday, uh, November 20th at 5:00 p.m. Perfect. Thank you. I'm just checking my calendar to make sure I did in fact put it in April. Perfect. Yes, make sure I do in fact have it. All right. Thank you so much. Are there any questions for Charlotte? All right. Wonderful. Uh, Jillian curriculum. All right. Uh, so we last met on the
03430th. Um, and uh, we Katie talked to us about a lot of things, a lot of uh, lots going on in that department. So, um, they got the results for the main three-year assessment. Um, and the individual reports that that happened in the spring. Um, those individual reports went out in September um, from that spring testing. I know. Uh I know we got one. Um and then the fall assessments recently wrapped up. Uh and uh Katie is doing what she said was data cleanup. So you know pulling the data together um and uh sorting it and whatever magic they work. That's what she's doing. Um and then uh so the families will be receiving those reports when they're complete. I think that she said the target was um mid to late November except for I
035Ready uh which were the K to2 assessments. Those are not going out directly and we I don't I don't know if anybody remembers from last year they decided to hand them out instead at um parent teacher conferences because parents were especially kindergarten parents have not had a child in the district like you get this report and you're like oh my gosh what does this mean? Um anyway, so to sort of close the loop on that, they've decided to hand those out at um parent teacher conferences, which helps the parents and the teacher go through it. So that's I really think it's a nice positive change and that worked well last year. She did say that there were some changes to the NWA uh percentile rank rankings and she was she's going to go over that
036with us during her presentation. um you know it's like the the um the data or this the model data what's the term word um changes as uh the cohort of students >> right the the test cohort is changes so like the percentiles uh you know don't compare to the 80s or whatever >> every two or three years NWA does update those norms based on the math >> of the kids scores the previous two or three years. So it's in that regular cycle they have redone that and this time we're seeing a slightly bigger change than a lot of other years. Katie will talk. >> Yeah. >> Much more eloquent. >> Yes. Yes. Yes. Right. Like I I'm definitely not doing this any service. So Katie is going to give us a wonderful presentation about that
037when that is all ready. Um and then she talked about how they are exploring some uh new types of curriculum and especially in math uh K to8. Uh her teams are looking at various uh programs and they're going to have a meeting and to review all those in the in the um in December. So that's super exciting. Um I guess there's like a lot of energy around it which you know just really always speaks to our teachers. So Um, and I think that's it. Our next meeting will be on the 20 on the 24th at 5:30. Um, and at that time we're going to review the CNA um the community needs assessment stuff and um look at what a committee would look like. Um, at least that's the goal and then possibly hear about some
038of this data. >> Very good. Is there any any indication so far if the numbers the the data the testing data went up went down? >> No, I mean they had just wrapped it up. They're like pulling it all and >> Gotcha. Gotcha. >> Doing whatever people with numbers do. >> Are there any questions for Jillian? All right. Thank you. Um, next is finance. So, we met uh we kind of a majority of our time was spent on going over the policy for building a budget because we're slowly we're getting very close to budget season. So, we were looking at how we could make the policy better aligned with the process of building the budget. Um and then we also kind of were making a plan to step forward and get moving on to next
039year's budget. And that was pretty much it. Most of it's recorded or all of it's recorded. figure it out. >> Are there any questions for Mitchell? >> Are you pushing your button or are you doing something else? >> Oh, okay. I'm sorry. Apologize. >> I have a question. >> Just since I'm so new, can you tell me sort of the budget cycle in terms of a calendar year? Sort of just a broad >> That is a wonderful question. Um considering I'm relatively new on the finance committee, I'm not the best task for that, but >> yeah, I'm happy to interview. I've been on the finance committee for a few years. Um so typically, um the district is pulling together numbers right now. So that means every single teacher and every single department, and they've already
040met probably before now, have drafted needs. They go building by building, level through level, and there's a very comprehensive review of every line item that's spent in the school to assess what needed, what may be not needed, and what changes might be warranted. It's a very extensive process, and you're going to learn a lot about it when we have our workshops um coming up in in the spring around March. Um so, typically the superintendent um and and that works its way up. So the they go painstakingly through the budget um as as departments and building leaders make their budgets, they then present it to the superintendent and the finance office, Kate Bolton. You'll meet her. She's a phenomenal asset to this district. She is so so valuable and such an incredible she's really good at
041taking a lot of complex data and giving it to you in a way that's really easy to understand, which I really value as somebody who's not come from the budgeting world. Um but but they go through that process. um the superintendent comes together within a budget and then um that budget goes through the goes through the finance committee, but there's a few workshops that lead up and this this timing is on what we're figuring out with the policy right now, but there'll be two policy workshops um and they and each of the departments will come present so that every board member is very well educated about the budget what the requests are and then the basis for the request and I find it very easy to understand why we're asking for the budget that we're
042asking and how to talk about it with constituents who have questions. And so one of those is an evening session, one of those is a daytime session. They're long. They have these really amazing raspberry pillow cookies that are delightful as part of the process. It's mandatory. >> Um and and by the end of it, you'll get a good sense. That's in March. There's an interplay between the budgets, right? Because we aren't the final deciders on the budget and the school budget is part of the town budget. And so it goes it go it comes through our finance committee. It comes to us as a body through a first reading. It there's items in motion. You'll find out about those. things that have to be updated, healthcare rates, things like that that come in late in
043the process. And so there's a dialogue that goes back and forth. It goes back to the town. The town also has to prove it. Then it comes back to this board to make changes. And then we'll go. But there's Kate puts out these like calendar of events way in advance. She gives you all the information about where to be, who's going to be there, and what's going to be on the agenda for those dates. And you'll be more than welcome and encouraged and, you know, very helpful to have you attend. >> So they're Yeah. They they they handhold us through the process in a way that is really helpful for people who like me did not have any experience in schools or budgeting before I started. >> Yeah, it's a really um those those days
044are really good good days. It's a budgeting for the for government's a little different than budgeting for um business or for a house or personal finance. And so, um, they're really it's a really good good process and really you are in excellent hands with with Kate Bolton and Diane. They're both really knowledgeable and super helpful. So, >> yeah. And the other piece that we try to do too um which we started last year was each month a different building leader or department um you know head will come and speak about um work within their school. so that you're learning about what all the schools are about and what their priorities are so that when you enter into the budget process, you have a better understanding of how all of that aligns, right? Because prior to
045last year, it was basically like the March workshops were like >> like cramming for everything that you you know like we were trying to just like fill you up with as much information as we could like help you learn about the schools and then ask you or you know talk about what the needs were all in one setting, right? And so what we've tried to do now is really take this approach where we're constantly um showcasing and talking about the works happening um in different departments or um in our buildings so that you feel more knowledgeable as a board member. >> Yeah. So like for example um it's the second meeting of the month. So, at um the November 20th meeting, you'll hear Principal Tero from the high school come um and he'll give a
046presentation about where you know what are um the big priorities for the high school and what the high school is working on currently. So, at least you have a point of reference right back and forth. >> Perfect. Are there any other questions for Mitchell? Um would you mind um just dropping your information in that slide so that it's they can I would you post it tomorrow, right? >> Yeah. So if you wouldn't mind before that would be perfect. Thank you. All right, John. Long range planning, you're up, sir. >> Yes. Well, we had our first um meeting of the school year uh on the 20th and uh we went through um Todd had come in I think uh at one meeting and told us like the things that they did over the summer but and
047I think he might have given the condensed version. We went over we have the list here of everything that was done. It's it's extensive and thanks to Cheryl for helping me get that in there. Jillian and I tried and we couldn't do it. So, Cheryl was able to um so we discussed all those, went over that, and then uh we decided it would be best to to just not talk about much else until after we found out what was going to happen uh on Tuesday, which thank God now we have some direction. And uh so I think what we're going to do is uh is meet again TBD. We don't know when, but uh to figure out what we need to bridge the gap to get to when uh you know what, you know, are
048there anything big items? You know, what what what do we have to do to to get us to where we're going in sounds like sometime in 29. We get a few years, but uh but there's still lots of things that uh that'll that'll happen at the school. So we will uh be working on uh that. But at least we know that we have an end uh endgame for at least some of the schools. You know, the high school always something's going to be happening there. So, we'll uh we'll keep on plugging away with everything that we need. So, we'll uh probably meet either this month or or next month to to discuss. I'll reach out to Todd and and the rest of the committee and see what we got. >> That's really good. Thank you,
049John. >> You're welcome. >> This list is really good. But um I know we um um I I've heard some talk um that perhaps uh the schools could have been better maintained and maybe that would have been a reason to um keep the schools, right? And so I I I appreciate um the fact that we can see all the work that has been done on an annual basis. And Todd works very very hard on our schools and um and his team, not just Todd, but Todd and his team. And this is a pretty extensive list and this is summer projects and it's two entire full pages long. So I'm really glad that's up for the community to see um how seriously we take this work and how often um Todd is really >> and his
050team are really putting in um extensive extensive work. This is quite a bit for just a few months. >> Yeah. Thank you. All right. Uh Freila ne you're next. You have a couple. You just want to go back to back. >> Yeah, I'll go back to back. So negotiations. Um we are super excited. We've been in contact with the SEA to start this year's contract. Um it's the ESP contract. Am I saying that right? Yes. >> Um colleally known as the edtech contract. Um it's a really important contract. Um I think we're really interested in getting started. Um and we have issued a 10day notice to the SEA um to prompt them uh to come meet with us to meet and to meet on this new contract um because we need to get started on
051it. It's important and we want to get it done. Our goal with this contract, as it was with every single contract, is to make sure that staff leaving for the school year end with leave knowing what the contract is so there's no uncertainty over the summer months about what they're coming back to. Um, and so we have we have gone into the summer a couple times lately and I really want to make it a priority to get this contract started as soon as possible. Um, that's negotiation. So, moving to policy. Um, I apologize for violating every policy or every slide rule known to mankind with the print size and number of items on this slide, but as you can see, policy committee is churning um through policies. So, we had a very productive meeting this
052evening and shued through a bunch of policies that are going to come to you for first reading. Um, there's a second read one policy coming to you for second reading. The public comment policy will be um will be coming forward. Um, but we went through temperature standards um and class size uh board standing committees and the procedures related to those. And then there's um a quick change that's going to come to you that was brought forward but from the finance committee which is um a change in the recruitment time frame in our policy. Um the DOE did an audit of our our manual and we need to update those numbers. So that's going to come to you. It's not a full review of that policy, but it's a quick change to the retention policy. Um
053so stay tuned for next meeting. Um upcoming we have a big suite of policies having to do with computer use coming up. um that's a lot of policies are going to be fairly duplicative in a lot of places. Um but we need to update our um essentially internet use policies and technology policies so that we come in line with what our security department and technology department needs us to do. And then under discussion um the town facilities naming policy we promised a draft to the town by the end of the year. We are going to make that goal >> and um then there's a few other policies that are upcoming. As a reminder, uh we reviewed the policies in reverse chronicle chronological order from the last time they've been reviewed. We have left the 1900s
054and we are now working through the very very early start of the 20s. Happy to take questions. >> Um the only thing is the date for our next meeting is November 20th. >> Oh yes. Our regular meeting is December 2nd. We have an extra meeting on November 20th uh which coincides with another meeting uh that we talked about in the comms. And so I suspect one of those meetings is going to shift timing. >> Uh we will publish all the agendas at least 3 days in advance um for both meetings so folks will have plenty of warning um if they are interested in attending. >> Awesome. Are there any questions for Frea? >> All right. Is there anybody with liaison reports? Um there was a district emergency management team meeting. I was out of town
055and unable to attend. So I didn't know if I could put you on the spot and ask you to Ray on the spot, either of you to just provide us a little update >> the agenda. We did a um a quick review of each phase level's emergency plans to go over that and discuss that. Um and then the other big thing we talked about was the starting our subcommittee which we're going to start on November 17th which looks at um what our current practices are for intruder or active shooter at one of our schools and then looking at what the homeland security recommendations are and looking at what the other school districts around. And then the goal of that subcommittee is to come back with some recommendations of the best ways to update that or
056leave it the same uh to the depth committee. And then the DEMP committee would then make recommendations you know to this um body here. Uh and that that subcommittee will involve teachers, admins and public safety officials as well. Anything else D? Um I think the only other thing that we discussed was again something that we do annually which is our tabletop exercises. So um you know each year all of our school sites um um involve uh members of their incident management teams as well as our public safety officials and they go through some scenarios just to kind of make sure that um everybody is aligned in their thinking and that we're working through questions. um that are coming up for folks so that people feel really confident um about what their plans look like. And
057I know that several of those have already started happening in some of our schools. So, um, last year I think we had a few sites where, uh, those tabletops happened very late in the year, and we really wanted to highlight that as a priority at the start of the year so that, uh, or earlier in the school year so that uh, folks feel really confident about um, what our plans are. >> Perfect. Thank you so very much. >> All right. Agenda item 12.0, know our student reports and before I jump too heavily in this um I was going to ask you when you Sarah are talking do you want to also cover our mentoring meeting as well and what you're thinking for your project >> all right perfect so I will turn this over to
058Abby and to Sarah >> yeah at the middle school across three days and six field trips every sixth grader got to experience the lab venture program at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute. The picture on the left and the right are different like things they got to do. And this program connects students to the scientific research happening right along our coast and brought the students into the lab for a hands-on immersive experience built around an observation made by local lobstermen and how that became the basis of much of the institutes institute's current work. Students collected data on live lobsters, learned how rising ocean temperatures are affecting species habitats, and met some of the newer arrivals to the Gulf of Maine like black sea bass, and heard from the lobster men and researchers working together to
059collect data and plan for the future. And also, the boys and girls soccer team just won regionals and we're on to states on Saturday. >> Miss Abby, congratulations to you. Yeah, >> it's in Measalonsky if you want to come. >> When is it? >> Saturday. >> This Saturday. It's at Where did you say it is? >> Messalons. >> Measalons. >> How do you spell that? >> Okay. >> Siri. >> Waterville area. >> And what what um time? >> Girls is at 11 >> and boys are after. >> Well, we I was wondering. >> I know. I'm just >> But good for everybody else to also at Mesalon Mealonsky. >> Yeah. >> Is that the name of the school? >> Yes. >> Mealons. Never heard of it. >> Yeah. >> Nice. >> We went there sophomore
060year. >> That's very exciting. I'm very excited for you. putting your water. >> All right. Any questions for Abby? Okay. Um, last week at Pleasant Hill, the talented art teacher, Mrs. Chapels, brought in some of her original oil paintings to share with her students. The students first described what they saw, including the different colors and textures the paintings had. They then worked on recreating their own versions of Slurp the Snail, Sheila the Shark, and Otto the Seagull. Also at Pleasant Hill last Tuesday, they held a book character parade where students and teachers could dress up as their favorite book characters. >> Very nice. Oh, and um Shannon and I a few days ago had a mentor meeting and we discussed what my project should be and we came up with the idea of doing it's
061not fully planned out yet, but like sort of a newsletter to like try to communicate like upcoming policies and really explain it in sort of like simpler terms and like possible effects that policies could have on students because I know students aren't looking at like the policies these directly. >> I am wounded by that. >> She means it in the very nicest of ways. And look, she's trying to solve the problem for you. >> Yeah, she um Sarah had some really great ideas. She's um interested in getting the students more involved in the policy process um for for the schoolboard. And so really understanding, we talked a lot about the cell phone policy and how that was really impactful, right? and how the students um that was you know occasionally we hear from students and
062we did hear from a lot of students obviously with the cell phone policy but oftentimes with policy they do impact students right and we just they don't always see it or think about it and so she's interested in in getting them um more involved in the process and also the other thing we talked about is collecting like finding a way for her to collect um feedback from kids so I think it's going to be a cool project. All right, any questions for Sarah? All right, agenda item 13.0 is the school solution referendum. Um, so as we've discussed already a few times tonight, it it um it did pass um this this time we did pass both question one and question two um pretty um significantly. the the pass rate was about 60 and almost 60%
063um for the second question. So, a pretty pretty awesome turnout. Um we had oh uh 50% of our voters turned out to vote, which is amazing considering that this was a um we we had one school board and two council seats all running unopposed. We did have our school questions and then we had two state questions. So, no federal um questions, no governatorial races, and we still um that turnout is unbelievably um incredibly impressive. So, that um that is really really great news. Um from this point on, because the the referendum did pass, the commit the communications committee is now disband so disbanded. So they um per our govern do governance document that we we created and and uh voted on here, they're no longer um working. Um and so one thing I would ask
064Cheryl if we could remove that from the website because that's no longer an active committee. That would be perfect. Um the um second piece is that as we um go ahead and move on to our next steps, uh the committee that Diane mentioned is the committee that we discussed as a body um maybe a month or so ago um at a board meeting. And that's the committee to really um monitor the progress, monitor the budget, walk through the the this process with um with the district, with the architect. So, um that is our next our next piece that has to happen in fairly short order because as you can imagine, the work has to get done. So, um myself, Diane, and Lisa are meeting on Monday to to for me to get some more information
065to share with you. I'm not really, this is the first time I've stepped into this piece of this work. Um, >> so I don't I don't really know what a committee like this looks like size-wise. Who, you know, we know we want community members, we know, of course, Todd, we know, of course, um, board representation, um, council, town manager, that there's going to be quite quite a list. And so, we're just trying, we have to flush this out a little bit and see what it looks like. in um uh it'll pro likely look like writing new documents like we did a new governance document um getting that in front of us. Um I do I would like to see a piece of that be communications. Um what I think has been really unbelievably amazing about
066this process. There's been a few things. Um one is the people that came and showed up and the second is the communication that happened. And in both cases, I think what a beautiful outcome of it is the trust that we've built with the community. And so I don't want to um slow down on this right now on that right now. So one thing I am hoping that this committee can do is continue with the communication piece. Um so I that's that's my hope. We'll see what we'll see what we get on Monday. More information um will be forthcoming. Um Diane mentioned the joint meeting with council once we kind of have our feet on the ground. Um the council operates a little bit differently than we do. They don't um we when we get sworn
067in, we just go and we meet with Kristen and her office and we do it privately. Council actually has to wait two weeks after the um referendum has been certified. And so they are not sworn in until two weeks from yesterday. and they're um they will at that point elect a chair and a co-chair. So right now um with with April out I presume John is the acting chair as the councelor Anderson is the acting chair as the um current vice chair. Um so they're a little I don't want to say they're in flux but they're a little influx just by virtue of of their the way they formed. Um so we will um again that's another sooner than later thing we need to get on the books is that meeting. Um lastly I did
068want to share I um at council I I did give public comment about this yesterday at the meeting and I just thought I would read it um for the record here for you to hear as well. Um, what I said is, um, I'm incredibly honored to stand before you today to say thank you to the council and the larger community for your help, your belief, and your commitment in getting the school referendum passed. The road to a school solution has been long. It has been marked by hard choices, deep conversations, and a shared hope for what's possible. But today, I want to focus on the most incredible part of this journey, the people. Two years ago, our bodies came together to form the building committee. We asked and sometimes even begged community members to join
069us. We asked that they trust us and trust the process we hope to build and they did. More than 60 people stepped forward paving the way with countless hours of hard work, thoughtful dialogue, and unwavering dedication. When we first envisioned a committee made up of community members, we can never have anticipated the overwhelming response. The committee was a mix of ages, experience, and background. I think starting out each member had an idea of what was what the right solution might be and then when when they came we asked something even harder of them. We asked them to leave those ideas at the door and follow the data. It was a big ask and they answered with grace. Week after week you showed up. You brought they brought their time, their talents and their heart to
070the process. They built trust. They built consensus and ultimately they built a solution that reflects the very best of scar broil. I know the solution isn't for everyone and I recognize the very real concerns many residents have felt have about the how they will pay for such a significant project. These conversations aren't easy, but they're necessary and moving forward, I'm hopeful we can continue working together to identify ways to reduce the fiscal impact wherever possible. I was incredibly heartened to hear the council's finance committee discuss the potential for increasing the school impact fee to help offset some of the costs. That kind of forward-thinking approach matters. The recent increase in senior tax relief is also an important step forward. One that helps protect our most vulnerable residents and ensures that Scarboro remains a place where
071all people of all ages can thrive. So, thank you. Thank you to the council. Thank you to the building committee. Thank you to the community and cannot say thank you enough for showing up for our students, for our teachers, and for the future of Scar Bro. Um I did get an opportunity today to speak to one of the building um members, the SBAC 1 and two members and um we had a lovely conversation, but I told him um this committee to me was we didn't know we we we were hopeful. We we had no idea. We were hopeful that it would work. We were hopeful that by bringing the community along in the process, we would have a better outcome. Um, but we were all taking a big risk and a big chance. And quite
072frankly, and now that it's all said and done, it's really to me an example of how um or should be an example for cities, for towns, for our federal government, for people everywhere. What what can happen when people set aside their preconceived ideas and notions and they just work together. This is I've never seen a committee full of um more different ideologies, different backgrounds, different work experiences and um they it's not it it was not rainbows and butterflies. It was not it the first meeting I remember I was sat in there and I was nervous because it there was arguing and there was conversation but they had these deep deep conversations and they disagreed and they battled and they challenged but they didn't battle people. They battled ideas and they battled thoughts and they battled
073data and they challenged not each other personally but what they were saying and it it should be an example for people everywhere. This committee is an example of what we can do right and I am I cannot say enough how proud I am of it and the work that they did and how they came together and this I truly believe that the um result the the discre not the discrepancy that the difference in the votes the yes and the no votes can really um be attributed to that. It was a real honor to um have this and this is um to be a part of this and this has been a real honor to watch all the way through to fruition. So um that that is that's my Thank you. All right. Any questions on
074the school referendum? What's next? Where we're going? Anything forward? All right. >> I have one question. Are we going to continue doing updates on the school referendum every meeting or are we going to change the schedule of updates on the building project as it moves into a phase that may be less important? >> It's extremely important work but it's going to be more incremental and I think the member reports maybe revising. >> I thought I was 100% supportive of putting this on the agenda and talking about it every single meeting. I think that was really significant. Sort of reevaluating sort of how we use that time. still wanting to bring the information forward to the public, but maybe on a schedule that's going to make more sense. >> Yeah, I think this goes down to
075once a month probably. >> Yeah, similar to what we talked about. >> Yeah. And if anything, in the meantime, you know, if if something pressing comes up, we can always add an agenda item for sure. But I think this can definitely go down. >> Yeah. Go down to once a month. >> Yeah. All right. Agenda item 14.0 is general public comment. Is there anyone here wishing to make general public comment this evening? No. Anybody online? >> One online. They can raise their hand if >> um if if anyone online is wishing to make public comment, if you want to raise your um your Zoom hand. All right. Hearing none, I will close general public comment. General uh agenda item 15.0 is new business. 15.1 is donations. 15.1.1 is donation approval for the high school. >>
076Yes. Um, so the you'll see the letter in your packet. Um, it is from Project Grace. Um, it is um uh to Mr. O' Conor who is one of our math teachers at the high school. Um, and I will read it uh for you. Dear David, thank you for your commitment to education and especially your students at Scarbor High School. Project Grace is very pleased to present to Scarro High School mathematics department a gift of 11 new advanced math calculators retailing at about $100 a piece. The gift is close to $1,200. But our neighbors investment in education is priceless. Our community is very quick to share and these calculators were given to us during our annual school supplies and backpacks drive and we are delighted to pass them on to you. Some years ago and
077in the years since, Project Grace provided calculators to the high school so that students who could not afford a calculator of their own or who had lost or forgotten to bring theirs to school could borrow one for the school year or for a test or classroom work through the loner program. We hope these calculators are useful. And if there are students with exceptional math skills who are unable to have a calculator of their own, we hope you will make a gift of one of these, perhaps a prize, so that they may continue to advance their math studies with confidence. With our most sincere best wishes to you and your students for a successful academic year ahead, uh the letter is signed by Stephie Cox, the executive director of Project Grace. >> Very nice. Do I
078have a motion to approve the uh donation of the uh for the high school as presented? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? Anybody wishing to make public comment? All in favor? And that shows unanimous. Thank you so much. Agenda item 15.1.2 or is a donations approval for funds raised for the backpack program? >> Yes. Um, I will share this memo to you from Kate Bolton. Um, before I read it, I will just tee this up with um, uh, last week. Oh, actually, it's in here. So, I'll read the middle. Um, over the past few weeks, our district has been pulling together to address the increased concern around food insecurity due to the government shutdown. While the high cost of essentials, food, clothing, fuel, shelter had already stretched many household budgets, federal
079workers are now on furlow or going unpaid and the local economy is feeling the strain. When it was announced that SNAP benefits would not be delivered starting on November 1st, district leaders created two communications. one for school families that may need access to help and another with information on how to donate to the backpack program. We are pleased to have made connections already with several new families who will benefit from our support. We are also thrilled to report that the fund drive, which only started Friday afternoon, so not even a full week yet gap, um has prompted an outpouring of donations from our school community with a total of 101 donors to date, giving a total of $11,000 even as of this morning. Uh as well as many gifts of food and supplies. The generosity
080of these many community members is truly inspiring. We respectfully request that the school board approve acceptance of these donations on behalf of the school nutrition backpack program. As an aside, I will also share with you that um our food service department on Monday received an email from a Wentworth parent um and one of our students at Wentworth, Daniel, um upon um his mom sharing with him um what the school was going to be doing um to try to uh raise funds for the backpack program. They decided that he would hold a bake sale over the weekend. And so on Monday, he delivered $150 um to the to the backpack program. >> It's incredible. >> So we really do appreciate the the generosity and it will go to good use. And you know the other thing
081is um our backpack program generally generally provides um food for students um over the weekend. Um and um in part because of the donations that we've received um we have decided that uh as long as we are able to we are going to um increase um that weekly donation to families to include all family members um and um food to help them with um uh nighttime meals as well. Very nice. >> So, you know, to the extent that we can continue to do that during this shortage, um we're certainly committed to doing that. >> That's wonderful. >> All right. Do I have a motion to approve the uh funds raised for the backpack program as presented? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? Any public comment? All in favor? And that shows
082unanimous. Thank Thank you so much. Agenda item 15.1.3 is a Hannerford Health School approval donation to Wentworth School. Yes. Uh in your packet, you'll see a letter from um Kelly Crosby, our Wentworth principal. Um, Skyro Board of Education, Wentworth Intermediate School raised a total of $756 consisting of the $300 base donation and additional funds from $133 community redeemed coupons directed to our school from the Hannerford Help School program. Once accepted by the board of education, we would like to provide this donation to the backpack program at Wentworth School to expand support for families facing greater food insecurity due to the government shutdown and suspended SNAP benefits. We respectfully request that the school board approve the acceptance of this generous donation on behalf of Wentworth School. Very nice. >> All right. Do I have a motion
083to approve the Hannerford Health School approval donation to Wentworth School as presented? So moved. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Any public comment? All in favor? And that shows unanimous. Thank you so much. Agenda item 15.2 are appointments. 15.2.1 is a behavioral specialist. Yes. Um Sarah Murphy has been selected to fill this position due to a resignation. Miss Murphy earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in interdisciplinary studies and minored in psychology at the University of Farmington. From the University of Maine, she also earned a certificate of graduate study in a autism spectrum disorders and a certificate in applied behavioral analysis from the University of Farmington. She has also earned her master's in educational psychology with a concentration in applied behavior analysis from the University of Southern Maine. She has served as a special education teacher in
084RSU10. She has also worked in the Bifford School District as both a special education teacher and uh a BCBA at the middle school. and most recently she uh has served as a BCBA at Bford High School. Um and uh we are excited to bring her on board. >> Wonderful. Do I have a motion to approve the behavioral specialist as presented? >> So moved. Second. >> All in favor. And that shows unanimous. Thank you so much. Agenda item 15.2.2 is the middle school winter one coaches. >> Yes. So, um, as most of you are aware, um, at the middle school, there are two winter sports seasons. Um, and so, winter one season is basketball. And so, in your packet this evening, you will see the appointments um, for our middle school basketball coaches. >> Wonderful. Do
085I have a motion to approve the middle school winter one coaches as presented? >> So, moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? That shows unanimous. Thank you so much. All right. Agenda item 16.0 is adjournment. Uh with no objections, we will adjourn at 8:14 p.m. Thank you so much. Have a good evening.