Minutes of July 16, 2026

MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ MEETING OF July 16, 2026

Current Board Members- 

        North Berwick-  Lauren Janousek, Kate Whalen, Richard DeCato

                           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.)

6:00pm

Workshop 

Noble High School Grading 

A meeting of the Board of Directors was held in person at Noble Middle and High School on July 16, 2026 at 7:13 pm with all members attending in person except Ms. Herlihy.

There were 10 in the audience. 

Pledge of Allegiance

Seating of  Board Chair and Oath of Office; Seating of Vice Chair

Ms. Janousek made the motion and it was seconded to nominate Ms. Peg Wheeler as chair of the school board for the 26/27 school year. All members voted in favor and the motion passed. 

Ms. Janousek made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Herlihy to nominate Ms. Melissa Cyr as vice chair for the 26/27 school year. All members voted in favor except Mr. DeCato, Ms. Sewell, and Ms. Basko who were against and Ms. Herlihy who abstained and the motion passed. 

Ms. Basko made a motion and it was seconded by Mr.DeCato to nominate Ms. Nancy Sewell as vice chair for the 26/27 school year. All members voted in favor except Ms. Whalen, Ms. Janousek, Ms. Tasker  and Ms Cyr who were against and Ms. Herlihy and Ms. Sewell who abstained and the motion failed. 

The Superintendent then swore in the new MSAD 6o Board Chair, Ms. Peg Wheeler.  

Public Input: 

Mr. Matthew Leggett of Lebanon 

Ms. Sewell made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Cyr to add an executive session 13a after item 13. All members voted in favor and the motion passed. 

Minutes: 

Ms. Sewell  made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Janousek  to accept the minutes of June 24, 2026 as presented.  All members voted in favor and the motion passed. 

Cell Phone Policy Discussion with Noble Middle and High School Administration

AJ Dufort, Noble High School Principal shared with the board the current situation with cell phones at school based on what took place during the 25-26 school year and the changes for the upcoming school year based on the new legislation. 

Resolution to Authorize SRRF 

The board then reviewed the resolution for the Maine Bond Bank and the approval of funds for the SRRF projects that were approved by the voters at the June 9th referendum. Ms. Janousek made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Herlihy to:

July 16, 2026

Motion: I move that the Resolution entitled, “Resolution to Authorize $1,197,366 School Revolving Renovation Fund Financing,” be approved in form presented to this meeting and that the Secretary file an attested copy of said Resolution with the minutes of this meeting.

RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE $1,197,366 SCHOOL REVOLVING RENOVATION FUND FINANCING

1. That under and pursuant to a Maine School Administrative District No. 60 (the “District”) referendum election held on June 9, 2026 to authorize the financing of Priority 1 Health, Safety, and Compliance repairs related to indoor air quality renovations and improvements at Noble Intermediate School (the “Project”), a Maine Department of Education School Revolving Renovation Fund Project Eligibility Certificate dated January 30, 2026, and all other applicable law, the Chair of the School Board (the “Chair”) and the Treasurer be authorized in the name of and on behalf of the District to execute and deliver a Loan Agreement between the Maine Municipal Bond Bank (the “Bond Bank”) and the District to effect a loan from the Bond Bank to finance the Project in the principal amount of up to $1,197,366, but of which amount $688,126 of principal is forgiven by the Bond Bank (the “Loan Agreement”); and that  the Loan Agreement be on such terms as the Chair and the Treasurer may approve, the execution and delivery thereof to be conclusive evidence of such approval.

2. That under and pursuant to sections 5953-E and 6006(F) of the Maine Municipal Bond Bank Act, sections 1490 and 1501 of Title 20-A of the Maine Revised Statutes, and other applicable law, the Chair and the Treasurer of the District be authorized to borrow in the name and on behalf of the District the sum of up to $509,240 from the Bond Bank to finance the Project; that in connection therewith, the Chair and the Treasurer be authorized to issue general obligation securities (bonds or notes) of the District in an original principal amount of up to $509,240, payable WITH NO INTEREST in ten (10) substantially equal annual installments of principal, and to execute and deliver such general obligation bonds or notes (as so executed and delivered, the “Bond”) in registered form under the seal of the District and attested by the Secretary; and that the Bond bear such date and be on such other terms and in such form as the Chair and the Treasurer may approve, the execution and delivery thereof to be conclusive evidence of such approval.

3. That the Chair and the Treasurer, acting singly, be authorized in the name and on behalf of the District to execute and deliver an Assignment of monies transferred by the State of Maine to pay for Project costs and such other instruments, documents, certificates and agreements, and to take or cause to be taken such further actions for and on behalf of the District, as may be necessary, convenient or appropriate to accomplish the Project and to effect the transactions contemplated by this Resolution and the documents referenced herein, and that the Secretary of the District be authorized to attest to the foregoing and attach the District's seal to any of the foregoing.

A true copy, attest: _____________________________________

Audra Beauvais, Secretary

Note: Include attested copy with meeting minute

All members voted in favor and the motion passed. 

Draft Board Handbook

The Superintendent handed out a draft of a Board Handbook for board members to review and make suggestions. It will be on the agenda again in August. 

Board Norms

There was some discussion regarding the board norms and what they mean and how they impact the board. They will be reviewed again at the next board meeting. Board norms. Ms Whalen made the motion by Ms. Basko to have no norms checker at the board meetings. All members voted in favor and the motion passed. 

We will put the Norms on the meeting agenda periodically. 

Board Code of Ethics

The board discussed the code of ethics and will consider this a first reading as it’s a policy. 

Public Input Statement Discussion

The board discussed the public input statement and shared that they would review it again in the future at the August meeting. 

Facilities Discussion- Mary Hurd Academy 

Ms. Basko shared her concerns regarding the facilities and wanted to have the board create a facilities committee for the years ahead. They would like to have three representatives from each town from the board, and then add in admin, stakeholders, parents etc. to create a facilities plan for the years ahead. We will have a board workshop and ask to have people join that committee from there. 

Policy First Reading: 

BEDBA Agenda Format

Ms. Janousek made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Cyr  to approve BEDBA as amended. All members voted in favor and the motion passed. 

Ms. Basko made the motion and it was seconded to go into executive session pursuant to 1 MRSA §405(6)(A) Duties of Officials/ Appointees/ Employees. All members voted in favor and the motion passed. In at 9:40 pm. Out at 9:54 pm. 

Employment:

Ms. Janousek made the motion and was seconded by Ms. Herlihy to transfer Ms. Michelle Keniston to Interim Noble Middle High School Principal for the 26/27 school year. All members voted in favor and the motion passed. 

New Hire:

Sydnie Croce- NMHS Biology, Masters of Education from the University of Southern Maine. Ms. Tasker  made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Cyr to approve Ms. Croce.  All members voted in favor and the motion passed.

Ryan Kipnis- NIS Gr 6 ELA/Science, Bachelor of Arts from Emerson College. Ms. Tasker  made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Cyr  to approve Ms. Kipnis.  All members voted in favor and the motion passed.

Scott Sudol- ELKS Life Skills, Masters of Education from the University of Southern Maine. Mr. Sudol has been a Behavioral Specialist at Ipswich High School, MA. Ms. Tasker  made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Cyr  to approve Mr. Sudol.  All members voted in favor and the motion passed.

Abigail Jerome- NIS Gr 5 Classroom Teacher, Bachelor of Science from St. Joseph’s College.  Ms. Tasker made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Cyr to approve Ms. Jerome.  All members voted in favor and the motion passed.

Bailey Goss- VEH PreK Special Education Teacher, Masters of Education from University of Maine. Ms. Goss has been a classroom teacher at Eliot Elementary School. Ms. Tasker made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Cyr  to approve Ms. Goss.  All members voted in favor and the motion passed.

Christine Edgar- NMHS Spanish Teacher, Master of Arts from University of New Hampshire, Ms. Edgar has been teaching Spanish and the Department Chair at Berwick Academy. Ms. Tasker made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Cyr  to approve Ms. Edgar.  All members voted in favor and the motion passed.

Erin Nasino- VEH Kindergarten Teacher, Bachelor of Science from Granite State College. Ms. Tasker  made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Cyr to approve Ms. Nasino.  All members voted in favor and the motion passed.

Cyrus Beer- NMHS Math, Bachelor of Arts from University of Colorado. Ms. Tasker  made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Cyr to approve Mr. Beer.  All members voted in favor and the motion passed.

Kathryn Brown- NMHS Math, Bachelor of Arts from University of Maine. Ms. Brown has been teaching in Europe.  Ms. Tasker  made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Cyr to approve Ms. Brown.  All members voted in favor and the motion passed.

Ariana Scharff-NIS Gr 6 Classroom Teacher, Masters of Teaching from Clark University.   Ms. Tasker  made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Cyr to approve Ms. Scharff.  All members voted in favor and the motion passed.

Resignation:

Amani Mwingira- NMHS Gr 7 Social Studies Teacher.  Ms. Tasker made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Cyr to accept the resignation of Mr. Mwingira. All members voted in favor and the motion passed.

Amy Creighton- NMHS School Nurse.  Ms. Tasker made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Cyr to accept the resignation of Ms. Creighton with regrets. All members voted in favor and the motion passed.

Leave of Absence:  Ms. Molly Philbrick, Ed. Tech III at ELKS.  Ms. Tasker made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Cyr to approve the leave of absence of Ms. Philbrick. All members voted in favor and the motion passed. 

Superintendent Update:

Summer programming update.

Metal recycling and bus recycling

Add 1 section of kindergarten for Hussey School. 

Transportation:  Just two bus routes open at this point.

Other:

Ms. Sewell would like to discuss The Dibels (it will be discussed on August 13th)

Harriman information regarding the 4/5/6 school option

Please don’t use cell phones during your meetings. 

Public Input:

None

Executive Session 1 M.R.S.A. §405(6)(A) Evaluation of Employee:

Ms. Janousek  made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Herlihy to go into executive session pursuant to Executive Session 1 MRSA 405§(6)(A) Evaluation of Employee. All members voted in favor and the motion passed.  In at 10:14 pm. Out at 10:30 pm. 

Adjournment

Ms. Janousek made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Herlihy  to adjourn. All members voted in favor and the motion passed. Adjourned  at 10:41 pm. 

Respectfully submitted,

Audra Beauvais