MAINE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICT #37 December 16, 2015 The Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors of RSU/MSAD #37 was held at the Narraguagus Jr./Sr. High School, Harrington, Maine, on Wednesday, December 16, 2015, at 7:12 p.m. to consider and act upon the following items of business: Board Members Present: Everett Grant, Ronald Kennedy, Brandi Lovejoy, Debra Murphy, Charles Peterson, Jr, Drusilla Ray, Michael W. Strout, Sally Thompson, Sarah Willson, and Mark Wright Board Members Absent: Angela Alley and Beth Hartford Other persons present: Ronald Ramsay, Denise Vose, Lorna Greene, Susan Meserve, Maria White, Lucille Willey, and Dawn Fickett MINUTES A.

INTRODUCTORY BUSINESS 1.

The meeting was called to order at 7:12 p.m. by Chairman Everett Grant.

2.

RE: APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 18, 2015 ACTION: Motion by Michael W. Strout, second by Drusilla Ray, and voted (702-yes, 112-abstentions) to approve the minutes of the November 18, 2015 board meeting as printed. (Lovejoy and Willson abstained as they were absent from that meeting.)

3.

RE: REPORT—SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS (Including Legislative Updates) INFORMATION: Supt. Ramsay reported that he is involved in discussions over the possibility of the district receiving additional money from GEAR UP for grades 7-12 college readiness/exposure. We are one of three in the state that may get this. He also noted he received a letter of resignation from Helen Sprague, Life Science Teacher at Narraguagus, effective January 1, 2016.

4.

RE: REVIEW OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR NOVEMBER 2015 INFORMATION: Supt. Ramsay noted that we doing fine financially. He encouraged board members to call the office at any time should they have questions or concerns about the finances of the district.

5.

RE: SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS INFORMATION:  Athletics/Student Activities—no meetings.  Curriculum & Instruction—no meetings.  Negotiations & Grievance—no meetings. We will be scheduling for after the new year.  Policy & By-laws—met on 11/26 to review new and revised policies/procedures. Will address later in the agenda.  Facilities, Maintenance, Safety, & Transportation—no meetings.

6.

RE: ADMINISTRATORS’ REPORTS INCLUDING NCLB/ESEA INFORMATION: Denise Vose reported that the special education department has been working hard to get ready for the site review. The desk audit (report) should be ready to mail by Friday. Things are going well.

Susan Meserve noted that Harrington currently has 140 students enrolled, with 12 of those in PreK. It has been a busy time leading up to Christmas break. The Christmas Fair was held on 12/11 where students were able to purchase gifts for family members. The Frogtown Puppeteers presented “The Grinch” yesterday. The Holiday Concert is tomorrow. Friday, students will be treated to hot cocoa and donuts, a sock hop, and Christmas parties. The junior high ball teams have started games. Lorna Greene reported that DW Merritt enrollment is 114. They also had The Grinch on 12/7, which Milbridge and Cherryfield students attended. The Holiday Program was on 12/6. Progress Reports went out on 12/11. Staff appreciated that holiday hams from the board and Mr. Ramsay. A gift sale for kids will be tomorrow and ornament making on Friday. The teacher evaluation committee met on 12/2 to review the pilot program. Best Practices Session 4 for new hires will be held at Milbridge tomorrow. NCLB is serving 151 students district-wide in Math and ELA. Maria White noted Milbridge has 109 enrolled. The Christmas Concert, held tonight, had a full house. The Playground Committee has raised $1,500 this month. Lynda Dorr and some helpers came to the school today and did holiday crafts with students. Things are going well academically. Students will be treated to hot chocolate, donuts, a sock hop, and a movie on Friday. Lucille Willey reported that Narraguagus has 286 students enrolled. It has been a busy month with two Christmas dances held on 12/12 (one for 7/8, one for 9-12), a blood drive on 12/9, the Christmas concert on 12/9, Skip Gates and his presentation on the opiate effect on 12/14, college application drive, athletics, etc. Everyone is looking forward to break. 7.

RE: AGENDA ADJUSTMENTS ACTION: Motion by Charles Peterson, Jr., second by Debra Murphy, and voted (unanimously) to adjust the agenda to include acceptance of bids for sale of used busses, which was accidentally omitted from the agenda. Motion by Debra Murphy, second by Mark Wright, and voted (754-yes, 60-abstentions) to accept the bids from Michael Farren--$1,200 for bus #40, and $600 for bus #42. (Thompson abstained.)

B. OLD BUSINESS None C. NEW BUSINESS 1.

RE: REPORT ON PRE-K PROGRAM INFORMATION: Elementary principals provided highlights of the PreK program. Enrollments are as follows: 13 at DW Merritt; 13 at Milbridge, and 12 at Harrington. High Scope curriculum is being used with center-based, student-led activities. Students have made good progress socially since September. Communications with parents is on-going through several methods. Support is provided by CDS, WCCP, and CFO, as well as through our district coordinator. Principals expressed that they believe the program to be exciting, valuable and extremely beneficial to student growth.

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2.

RE: REPORT ON 7TH & 8TH GRADE MOVE TO NARRAGUAGUS INFORMATION: Lucille Willey presented information on course offerings for grades 7/8, including electives they can take. They have been included in several activities that they might not have otherwise had at the elementary schools. Only one set of parents came to the parent meeting on December 8th, but there was valuable discussion/feedback that will be used. Students were given a survey and their responses were shared with the board. This report will be made available to the public. Ms. Willey noted that she feels the move has gone very well. There have been some glitches, but most have been worked out. The additional opportunities available to the students makes the move worthwhile.

3.

RE: HIRING SUBSTITUTE TEACHER—Chelsea Mullins ACTION: Motion by Drusilla Ray, second by Mark Wright, and voted (754-yes, 60-abstentions) to approve Chelsea Mullins as a substitute teacher as recommended by the Superintendent. (Thompson abstained.)

4.

RE: APPROVAL OF VOLUNTEER ASST. COACH-NHS VARSITY BOYS’—NICK KENNEDY ACTION: Motion by Ronald Kennedy, second by Mark Wright, and voted (unanimously) to approve Nick Kennedy as a volunteer assistant coach for the NHS boys’ varsity basketball team as recommended by the Superintendent.

5.

RE: APPROVAL OF VOLUNTEER ASST. COACH-DWM CHEERING—Amanda Kowalsky ACTION: Motion by Mark Wright, second by Sally Thompson, and voted (unanimously) to approve Amanda Kowalsky as a volunteer assistant cheering coach at DW Merritt as recommended by the Superintendent.

6.

RE: APPROVAL OF VOLUNTEER ASST. COACH-DWM BOYS’—Harry Beal, Jr. ACTION: Motion by Debra Murphy, second by Ronald Kennedy, and voted (unanimously) to approve Harry Beal, Jr., as a volunteer assistant coach for the DW Merritt jr. high boys’ basketball team as recommended by the Superintendent.

7.

RE: APPROVAL OF NATURE TRAIL GRANT FOR HARRINGTON ELEMENTARY ACTION: Motion by Charles Peterson, Jr., second by Ronald Kennedy, and voted (unanimously) to approve the application for a grant of up to $35,000 through the Maine RTP Grant Program. This grant will provide funds for Harrington Elementary School to continue work on renovations to its nature trail. Sara Willson left at 9:19 p.m.

8.

RE: CONSIDERATION OF 1st READING OF POLICIES/PROCEDURES a) EEAEAA-R—Drug & Alcohol Testing of School Bus Drivers-Administrative Procedure (revision) b) IHBEA—English as a Second Language (revision) c) JLCDA—Medical Marijuana in Schools (new) d) JLF—Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (revision) e) JLF-R—Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect-Administrative Procedure (revision) f) JLF-E—Suspected Child Abuse/Neglect Report Form (revision) ACTION: It was noted that these are all required policies/procedures, and other than minor changes, we don’t have a lot of leeway to make changes. The Policy Subcommittee met on November 26, and left the new language intact as recommended by Maine School Management Association and Drummond Woodsum (attorneys). Debi Murphy expressed dismay that there was not more public outcry/input on the new Medical Marijuana policy. Supt. Ramsay noted that this was not a policy that came through the Education Committee, so there was little notice to school officials. Motion by Charles Peterson, Jr., second by Drusilla Ray, and voted (unanimously) to approve the first reading of the above listed policies/procedures. Page 3 of 4 December 16, 2015 Board of Directors’ Meeting

9.

RE: ADJOURNMENT ACTION: Motion by Charles Peterson, Jr., and voted (unanimously) to adjourn the meeting at 9:28 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, Ronald C. Ramsay Secretary to the Board

MEETING SUMMARY—December 16, 2015 A. INTRODUCTORY BUSINESS 2. APPROVED the minutes of the 11/18/15 regular meeting; 7 APPROVED agenda adjustment; 7a. ACCEPTED bids from Michael Farren for used busses; B. OLD BUSINESS None C. NEW BUSINESS 1. INFORMATION: Report on PreK program; 2. INFORMATION: Report on grade 7/8 transition to Narraguagus; 3. HIRED Chelsea Mullins as substitute teacher; 4. APPROVED Nick Kennedy as volunteer asst. varsity boys’ coach at NHS; 5. APPROVED Amanda Kowalsky as volunteer asst. cheering coach at DWM; 6. APPROVED Harry Beal, Jr., as volunteer asst. boys’ basketball coach at DWM; 7. APPROVED submission of nature trail grant for Harrington Elementary; 8. APPROVED first readings of EEAEAA-R; IHBEA; JLCDA; JLF; JLF-R;, JLF-E

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