Minutes of April 17, 2025

MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ MEETING OF April 17, 2025

Current Board Members- 

        North Berwick-  Lauren Janousek, Kate Whalen, Joshua Tabor

                           Berwick- Alison Herlihy, Elva Lovejoy, Peg Wheeler

                           Lebanon- Nancy Sewell, Jeridene Basko, Nancy Neubert

(For a full account of this meeting please review the video here…Link you can choose to view the transcript in progress by clicking CC for subtitles.)

A meeting of the Board of Directors was held in person on April 17, 2025 at 7:00 pm with all members attending except Ms. Neubert. There were 11 members of the public. 

Pledge of Allegiance

Public Input:

Mr. James Duprie, of Lebanon, asked a question regarding the situation with Title IX funding. 

Minutes: 

Ms. Janousek made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Wheeler to accept the minutes of  March 6, 2025 meeting as amended. All members voted in favor and the motion was passed. 

Ms. Wheeler  made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Lovejoy to accept the minutes of  March 13, 2025 meeting as amended. All members voted in favor and the motion was passed. 

Ms. Wheeler made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Lovejoy to accept the minutes of  March 20, 2025 meeting. All members voted in favor and the motion was passed. 

Ms. Wheeler  made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Lovejoy to accept the minutes of  April 3, 2025 meeting as amended. All members voted in favor and the motion was passed. 

Ms. Wheeler made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Basko to accept the minutes of  April 10, 2025 meeting. All members voted in favor except Ms. Lovejoy and Ms. Herlihy and the motion was passed. 

Approval of 2025-26 School Calendar

Ms. Herlihy made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Lovejoy to make December 23rd a half day. All members voted in favor and the motion passed. Ms. Wheeler  made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Lovejoy to accept the 2025-26 School Calendar as amended. All members voted in favor and the motion passed.

Employment: None

Superintendent Update: 

Our school nutrition director, David Vargas, and student Andre just returned from the state Farm to School cook off with a first place! They will come and visit the board in the near future. 

Noble Adult and Community Education Program graduation date is set for May 29th at 6:00 pm. All of our board members are encouraged to attend as it is a wonderful evening celebrating the hard work of our NACE students and staff. 

Open House dates: April 29th, incoming 5th/6th NMS

April 30th 4th 

May 6th 7th and 8th grade

Move up/step up dates are being planned. 

Bus routes for the next year will be available at the end of the school year. Bus Right is working with the transportation department to finalize the routes. 

Our Pre K program for Lebanon will be held at the Hanson School this coming year. 

Other:  

Mr. Tabor asked specific questions regarding the Pre-K change for the Lebanon program back to the school rather than at Blue Prints. 

Ms. Clavet thanked the board for the time and energy that they give to the students of the district. She shared her reasoning.  She felt that it isn’t best practice for the students given the students and the model. It’s easier to get an EPS formula. 

Mr. Tabor noted his concern about the breakdown of the private Pre-K partnership and advocated for a potential sub-committee to look at things going forward regarding the pre-k program. 

Ms. Basko shared her concerns regarding the nutrition program and the freezing of funds based on the current situation with the state of Maine in conflict with executive orders. 

Ms. Basko also asked about intramurals and the needs for transportation. 

Ms. Janousek reiterated that she would like to participate with the potential sub committee regarding the Pre K program. 

Ms. Janousek also asked about the start and end timing of schools with many students being driven to school and multiple families will need to drop students at multiple locations for the Elementary start time.

Ms. Janousek asked about the last day of school for students as it is also the June referendum and therefore the school is potentially going to be “remote for the vote.” The administration is working on the end of year plan for the students.  

Ms. Janousek also shared national school bus driver appreciation week is next week but they are celebrating this week because next week is vacation. The Lebanon, Berwick, and North Berwick PTOs are working together to provide pastries and coffee for the bus drivers to the bus barn on Thursday morning to show some love!

Ms. Herlihy asked about the police presence at arrival and dismissal at the Hussey School in particular. 

Mr. Tabor shared with the board his concern regarding the 4th graders being at the Knowlton School and far away from their homes. Ms. Whalen and Ms. Wheeler asked for other solutions Ms. Janousek noted that although this is new to us here at Noble, it is not new to many different communities in the state of Maine. 

Mr. Tabor noted that he felt that the reconfiguration was very quick and that we didn’t take the opportunity or time to look at the other options.  

Ms. Herlihy noted that she agreed it was quick but that the way that we approach this might make a difference in how students handle this.

Ms. Sewell shared her concerns as well regarding the time that the students are going to be spending away from their homes.  

We will have the bus routes for the board to consider in the near future. 

Public Input: 

Ms. Whalen, of North Berwick, shared her own personal statement, regarding a certification letter requested by the The U.S. Department of Education to state commissioners and LEAs regarding their legal obligations under Title IX and other civil rights laws, including a request for certification of compliance.  She shared her beliefs about adhering to the current state Maine Human Rights Commission law. 

Adjournment: 

Ms. Janousek  made a motion and it was seconded by Ms. Wheeler  to adjourn the meeting. All members voted in favor and the motion passed. 

Adjourned at 8:07 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Audra Beauvais