Minutes of August 21, 2025

MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ MEETING OF August 21, 2025

Current Board Members- 

        North Berwick-  Lauren Janousek, Kate Whalen, Joshua Tabor

                           Berwick- Alison Herlihy, Marissa Tasker, Peg Wheeler

                           Lebanon- Nancy Sewell, Jeridene Basko, Melissa Cyr 

(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 August 21, 2025 at 7:00 pm with all members attending except Ms. Wheeler who was remote and Mr. Tabor who was absent. 

There were 7  members of the public present. 

(Please note that the executive sessions noted below occurred PRIOR to the opening of the meeting at 7 pm.)

Executive Session

Executive Session Pursuant to 1M.R.S.A. §405(6)(B) Readmission of a Student 

Ms. Janousek made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Basko to go into executive session pursuant to Executive Session 1 MRSA 405§(6)(B) Readmission of a Student. All members voted in favor and the motion passed. In at 6:04 pm. Out at 6:21 pm. 

Ms. Janousek  made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Sewell to reinstate the student under consideration. All members voted in favor and the motion passed. 

Executive Session Pursuant to 1M.R.S.A. §405(6)(B) Readmission of a Student 

Ms. Janousek  made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Basko to go into executive session pursuant to Executive Session 1 MRSA 405§(6)(B) Readmission of a Student. All members voted in favor and the motion passed. In at 6:26 pm. Out at 6:58 pm. 

Ms. Janousek  made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Basko to reinstate the student under consideration. All members voted in favor and the motion passed. 

Pledge of Allegiance

The Vice Chair, Ms. Wheeler, read the public input statement. 

Public Input: None at this time.

Minutes: 

Ms. Janousek  made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Cyr to accept the minutes of August 7, 2025. All members voted in favor and the motion passed.

Business Brief 

Ms. VanCampen, Business Manager, shared with the board that we had been offered a reduction in the rates for the bus and technology lease which will yield a small savings over the duration of the leases. She predicts approximately a $2500 savings over the length of the lease.

Ms. Van Campen handed out  an updated  month by month Business Syllabus. 

Ms. VanCampen then reviewed a list of financial terms and definitions for the board. 

Ms. Van Campen then shared a budget timeline by month and talked it through with the board. 

The board chair discussed tabling the discussion about School Building/ Facilities  until a future date with more time available. Ms. Herlihy made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Basko to table the School Building/Facilities discussion until the September meeting. All members voted in favor and the motion passed. 

Employment:

The Director position for the Mary Hurd Academy has not been fulfilled at this point. Ms. Melissa Adams, Director of Special Education, presented a solution for the interim to provide leadership and support for the program. Ms. Samantha Grace, current IEP coordinator, will be able to step into the role quickly and effectively. The board had a discussion regarding the feasibility of this solution from the angle of staff support and not burning out the current staff. 

Job descriptions for the IEP Coordinator and the MHA Administrator will be provided to the board in the near future. Ms. Grace also volunteered to come back to the board for a check in later in the school year to update the board. 

New Hire:

Ms. Nicole Gleason is nominated as a second grade teacher at North Berwick Elementary School. Ms. Janousek made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Basko to accept the nomination of Ms. Gleason.  All members voted in favor and the motion passed. 

Ms. Jessica Silberman is nominated as a social studies teacher at Noble Middle High School. Ms. Janousek made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Basko to accept the nomination of Ms. Silberman. All members voted in favor and the motion passed. 

Ms. Jennifer Pennington is nominated as a math teacher at the Mary Hurd Academy. Ms. Janousek made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Basko to accept the nomination of Ms. Pennington. All members voted in favor and the motion passed. 

Resignation: 

Mr. Chris Jones  is resigning from the position as Special Education Teacher.  Ms. Herlihy made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Basko to accept the resignation of Mr. Jones. All members voted in favor and the motion passed with regrets. 

Mr. Mark Lafond is resigning from the position as a Social Studies teacher. Ms. Cyr made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Basko to accept the resignation of Mr. Lafond. 

Superintendent Update: 

The Superintendent updated the board that the data that was requested regarding student progress will be provided in the near future. 

Reminder that if you’d like to visit the schools, please send a request to the Central Office and we will facilitate your visits. We appreciate your support.

The Superintendent shared a list of the MSAD 60 open houses coming up over the next few days. 

The policy committee will be set up through the board chair and she asked that the board members interested in serving on the committee reach out to her to put their name in for consideration. 

Other: 

Ms Janousek asked about reviewing  the January Meeting Dates?  Looking at January 8 and 22.  Would that work for folks? Also a question about the February meetings to be sure we get two in that month.

Ms. Janousek made a motion and it was seconded by Ms. Herlihy to change the board meetings for January to the 2nd and 4th weeks to avoid a conflict with a current school event on the third Thursday of the month. It is also noted that the first Thursday of the month in January is the 1st, New Year’s Day. 

Ms. Janousek made a motion and it was seconded by Ms. Herlihy to change the February 19th board meeting to February 26th in order to ensure that we have two meetings in February.  All members voted in favor and the motion passed. 

Ms. Janousek also asked for clarification: If there is a parent/guardian who does not require transportation for their child, should they email the transportation department? Yes.  

The Popsicles with the Principals events at several of the schools have been very well attended.  

Ms Sewell asked about group stops or walking in Lebanon. 

Ms. Sewell asked that we adopt a protocol for board members when they are to be recognized for speaking. There was a good conversation to address this concern. Ms. Basko noted that we should be following Robert’s Rules.  The board will raise awareness and members will use their microphone lights to indicate that they’d like to speak.  

Ms. Basko noted that there are a lot of Open Houses on the same night and we will be looking at that again for the future. 

Public Input:

Chelsea Hewitt of North Berwick asked a clarifying question about taking the children off the bus officially, would they, in an emergency situation be able to get on a bus? Yes, they would. 

Adjournment: 

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

Adjourned at 8:48 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Audra Beauvais