OLD ORCHARD BEACH SCHOOL BOARD
OOB TOWN HALL - COUNCIL
CHAMBERS
REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING
APRIL 9, 2008 - 7:00 PM
6:30 PM EXECUTIVE SESSION: Negotiation updates
ATTENDANCE: Chair Kay Dutton, Laura Bolduc, Debbie Evans, Dennis
Robillard, Patricia Clark, Supt. Eric Matthews; Administrators: Donna Ford,
Patricia Hayden, Michael Pulsifer, Lloyd Crocker, Richard DiFusco, Ellen Bell
(Student Council Representative); Dean Plante, John Nye and guests.
MINUTES
1. CALL
TO ORDER The
Regular Monthly Meeting of April 9, 2008 was called to order at 7:20 pm by
Chair, Kay Dutton following the executive session that ended at 7:15.
2. PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE
3. EXECUTIVE
SESSION: Negotiation updates
4. EMERGENT ITEMS -
Presentation to Peggy Berry
Laura Bolduc thanked Peggy for her
twenty-two years of service as a bus driver for the Old Orchard Beach School
Department. Laura stated that her
service was appreciated. Peggy was
presented with a plaque which read:
Margaret �Peggy� Berry Thank you for your twenty-two years of
faithful service to the children of Old Orchard Beach.� Eric Matthews stated she would be missed and to enjoy
retirement. Peggy thanked the
Board for the plaque and thanked everyone for coming.
5. MINUTES
OF REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING OF MARCH 12, 2008
Laura Bolduc (motioned) to accept
the March 12, 2008 Regular Monthly Meeting minutes as presented. Dennis
Robillard (seconded). The vote was
unanimous.
6. ADMINISTRATORS REPORTS
Jameson Elementary School
- Nothing
to add.
Loranger Middle School - Nothing to add.
Old Orchard Beach High
School - Nothing to add.
Curriculum Coordinator - Nothing to add.
Student Representative - Nothing to add.
7. CITIZEN
FORUM
Earle Towle, Treasurer of the American Legion in Old
Orchard Beach, presented the Board with a check for $1500, $500 of which was to
be distributed to each of the three school libraries, in honor of April:
Children and Youth Month.
Nikki MacDonald, eighth grade Language Arts teacher,
informed the Board that Rebecca Whitman had won the $100 first prize for the
Family Essay contest and Brittany Small won second place.
8. OLD
BUSINESS:
A. Consolidation Update
Eric Matthews stated that they had requested and been
granted an extension until June 13th to submit our completed consolidation
plan. The hope is to get the
referendum on the ballot for the summer.
He stated that the next meeting will be open to the public. Kay Dutton stated that the next meeting
will be at the high school and requested to use the technology room. Mr. DiFusco stated that he would
check the Adult Education schedule.
9. NEW
BUSINESS:
A. Junior Achievement Project - Pathways
Josh thanked the School Board, and Dennis Robillard in
particular, for all of the help given to the Jr. Achievement Program. He stated that he had been serving as
the CEO for the program and in addition to many other skills, including
teamwork, he had learned leadership and organizational skills.
Dennis Robillard stated he has had a very positive
experience working with the kids.
He asked Josh what the Alternative Education program meant to him. Josh
stated he probably wouldn�t be in school if it weren�t for Alternative
Education.
Chelsea stated that the students had made seventy-five
trellises, which they were offering for sale and asked that any one who was
interested call the school.
Dennis Robillard stated he was very impressed by the
students. He stated that they
developed the product, decided on the name, chose the slogan �the playground
for your plants�, and designed the logo.
Patricia Clark stated that a flyer was sent home in her
daughter�s backpack.
Laura Bolduc asked where the production facility was. Josh
and Chelsea said the trellises were made at the school.
Dennis Robillard asked what they had planned to do with
the money. Josh stated that 15% was going to charity, and that they were
looking at camps for troubled kids.
The rest was being used for an end-of-the-year dinner for the students,
and to help the family of a previous student.
B. 2008-2009 School Calendar
Laura Bolduc (motioned) to table the 2008-2009 School
Calendar for further information and for discussion. Dennis Robillard
(seconded). The vote was
unanimous.
C. Safe Routes to School Grant
Mary Ann Conroy stated that the construction of the road
improvements along E.E. Cummings Boulevard was scheduled to begin in July. The plan is to rebuild the road, add
bike lanes, and move the fence back in an effort to make the area more
obviously a school zone, especially with regard to town trucks on the
road.
Kay Dutton asked if the ballpark area will be affected.
Mary Ann Conroy responded no.
Patricia Clark stated that the speed zones were not set by
the town, but rather by the State.
The State mandated speed limit in a school zone is 25 mph, but the
current posted speed limit in that area is 30 mph. Mary Ann Conroy replied that
the posted speed limit will be changed to 25 mph and 15 mph when flashing. The object of the plan is to rebuild
the road to make it more obviously a school zone.
Laura Bolduc asked how wide the road will be. Mary Ann Conroy
stated there will be two 11 foot lanes with an 8 foot wide parking area on one
side. Laura Bolduc expressed
concern that the road will not be wide enough. Mary Ann Conroy explained that the road will conform to the
DOT standard. Laura Bolduc reiterated her concern with regard to long-term
safety with the road being narrowed.
Patricia Clark asked if it would be possible to make the
road a foot wider. Mary Ann Conroy stated 11 ft is plenty of space, if the
trucks slow down. She added that
trucks are being encouraged to take Smithwheel Road rather than E.E. Cummings
Laura Bolduc expressed concerns regarding inconveniencing
residents who just purchased housing in that area. Mary Ann Conroy stated that the residents will be able to
enjoy the walking and bath paths.
In addition, water and sewer lines will be placed to allow for future
bathroom facilities at the football field.
D. Third Grade Parent-Teacher Conferences
Mr. Matthews stated that Mr. Pulsifer could not be at the
Board meeting, but that he had included a packet that outlined his proposal for
connecting the buildings. His plan
is to model the third grade parent-teacher conferences at Jameson after Loranger�s
conferences so that parents can become accustomed to meeting in that way. Mr. Pulsifer was requesting to change
the current third grade parent-teacher format and Mr. Matthews supported this
idea.
Patricia Clark asked if teachers have time to assess the
students that early in the year.
Mike Flaherty, team leader for 3rd grade, stated
that 3rd grade falls into the same Maine Learning Results span as 4th
and 5th grade. He added
that there are many changes for the third grade students that parents may not
know about, and that meeting with the parents earlier will give them the
opportunity to discuss these items sooner.
Laura Bolduc asked how long the meeting would need to be.
Mike Flaherty replied the meetings would be about twenty minutes. Patricia Clark
asked if twenty minutes was enough time. Mike Flaherty stated yes, most of the
time.
Patricia Clark (motioned) to change parent-teacher
conferences per Mr. Pulsifer�s request.
Dennis Robillard (seconded).
The vote was unanimous.
E. Kindergarten Registration
Mr. Matthews stated that based on the birth-rate
information provided by Mr. Pulsifer that the estimated kindergarten enrollment
would be about ninety-three children.
F. Appointment of Probationary
Teachers
Mr. Matthews recommended tabling the item and suggested a
special meeting on Wednesday, April 16th to allow time for the issue
to be better advertised.
Laura Bolduc (motioned) to schedule a special meeting and
review of policy GCOA. Dennis
Robillard (seconded). The vote was
unanimous.
A citizen asked how he could have input regarding the
issue if the item was to be discussed at another time. Mr. Matthews stated he could
come to the meeting. Patricia
Clark added the purpose of the special meeting is to allow time to advertise.
G. Resignation of Special Education Teacher - J. Floyd
Laura Bolduc (motioned) to accept the resignation with
regret. Dennis Robillard
(seconded). The vote was
unanimous.
H. First Reading of Policies:
(1) EEA Transportation
Laura Bolduc (motioned) to accept the changes to and the
first reading of the EEA Transportation policy. Dennis Robillard (seconded). The vote was unanimous.
(2) IJNDB-R Acceptable Use of Computers,
Networks and Electronic Communication
Patricia Clark (motioned) to accept the changes to and
first reading of IJNDB-R Acceptable Use of Computers, Networks, and Electronic
Communication policy. Debbie Evans
(seconded). The vote was
unanimous.
I. Workshop - School Board Role - Confidential
Information
Laura Bolduc requested to have a workshop with the Board�s
legal counsel to review the School Board�s role and the proper chain of command
when dealing the parental grievances.
She stated concerns regarding recent communications in which the Board
was made privy to information that could have compromised the Board�s
objectivity.
Patricia Clark stated that it is not the Board members who
need to be advised, but rather the community and the parents. Laura Bolduc
stated that the purpose of the workshop would be to educate the Board members
regarding information they should and should not see so that they could better
educate the public regarding how to air their grievances.
Eric Matthews stated he would be
happy to set up the workshop, if he could have a few dates.
Dennis Robillard suggested prior to the next School Board
meeting. The meeting was set for Wednesday, May 14 at 5:30 with the alternative
dates of May 7 and May 21.
J. Possible Reduction of Force Scenarios
Eric Matthews stated the document with the proposed cuts
was included in the packet. It
appears at this time, based on the recommendation of the Town Manager Steve
Gunty, that the school budget will only be approved for $9.5 million of the
$10.2 million requested. As
such, every department was affected.
Dean Plante, Vice President of the Teacher�s Association,
and John Nye, President of the Teacher�s Association, presented a slide show
presentation that outlined an alternative solution. Mr. Plante stated that the teacher�s proposal had a more
student-centric solution, and rather than cutting programs that provided
enrichment experiences for the children, they felt that additional cuts on the
administrative side made more sense.
Mr. Plante and Mr. Nye walked through their proposal.
Mr. Plante stated that with the consolidation looming, he
believed it would be best to look out for the interests of the students. He stated that if we consolidated and
had cut all of the programs the administration was proposing, we would not get
those programs back. Mr. Plante said it would be better to cut positions that
would be reinstated after the RSU, such as the Curriculum Coordinator, than to
cut the elementary music program.
Eric Matthews stated Bill 1932 will be going to public
referendum and requested permission from the Board to authorize him to turn the
document over to the Town Clerk.
He stated that he would review the cost centers with the Board at the
April 15 meeting.
Kay Dutton asked if the numbers on the form would be the
numbers that would be used if it is approved. Mr. Matthews stated that the
Board was only voting to approve use of the form and that the numbers would be
filled in later. Kay Dutton stated
the Town Clerk has ten days to prepare for the public vote.
Patricia Clark stated that it does not matter what the
school asks for in terms of budget.
It is up to the public. Mr. Matthews stated it has always been that
way. Mr. Plante requested a copy
of the form so that the Teacher�s Association could streamline their proposal.
Kay Dutton asked if the budget would be going to Town
Referendum on June 10. Eric Matthews replied yes. Kay Dutton asked what budget
be used if the public voted against the proposed budget. Mr. Matthews stated
that the budget would revert to the budget the School Board had proposed until
a new budget was passed.
Laura Bolduc asked where the Alternative Education program
would be funded if it was no longer part of the Adult Education program. Mr.
Matthews stated he did not know, but would find out.
Kay Dutton asked if this budget would be voted on as a
line item budget. Eric Matthews responded that he did not know for certain as
there were several loopholes, but he felt it may be a bottom line budget.
Patricia Clark (motioned) to authorize the Superintendent
of Schools to provide the Town Clerk with the School Budget Validation
Referendum form Pursuant to 20-A M.R.S.A. �� 1486(2) and 2307. Dennis Robillard (seconded). The vote was unanimous.
10.
FINANCIAL REPORTS:
A. School Department Report
Patricia Clark (motioned) to accept the School Department
Report for the month ending March 31, 2008 until audit. Dennis Robillard
(seconded). The vote was
unanimous.
B. Consolidated Lunch Report
Dennis Robillard (motioned) to accept the Consolidated
Lunch Report for the month ending March 31, 2008 until audit. Patricia Clark (seconded). The vote was unanimous.
C. Adult Education Report
Patricia Clark (motioned) to accept the Adult Education Report for the month
ending March 31, 2008 until audit.
Dennis Robillard (seconded).
The vote was unanimous.
11. GENERAL
INFORMATION:
A. Letter
from Mr. & Mrs. Lampert
This letter was a testimony to the
tremendous work that the high school did in the latest crisis.
B. Long Term Sub Jameson School Special Ed. - T. Emory
Tracie Emory will be filling in for
the rest of the year for Megan Quackenbush.
C.
School
Health Coordinator Report
Report from Jackie Tselikis,
School Health Coordinator
12.
ADJOURNMENT
Laura Bolduc (motioned) to adjourn
at 8:48 pm. Patricia Clark (seconded). The vote was unanimous.
_____________________________________________
I, Wendy Brown, Secretary to the
School Board, do certify the foregoing document consisting of five (5) pages is
a true copy of the original minutes of the Regular Monthly Meeting of the
School Board, which was held on April 9, 2008