MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ MEETING July 18, 2019
A meeting of the Board of Directors was held at Noble High School in North Berwick, Maine on July 18, 2019 at 6:00 pm, with all members present. There were 4 in the audience.
Ms. Mallett made the motion and it was seconded by Mr. Doiron to go into executive session for the readmission of a student. All members voted in favor and the motion passed. In at 6:00 pm. Out at 6:29 pm.
Ms. Mallett made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Beal to readmit the student under consideration. All members voted in favor and the motion passed.
Ms. Mallett made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Neubert to go into executive session for the readmission of a student. All members voted in favor and the motion passed. In at 6:35 pm. Out at 7:06 pm.
Ms. Mallett made the motion and it was seconded by Mr. Doiron to readmit the student under consideration. All members voted in favor and the motion passed.
Ms. Mallett, vice chair, addressed the audience regarding the norms of Public Input.
Public Input: None at this time
Ms. Neubert made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Manley to accept the minutes of June 6th as presented. All members voted in favor except Ms. Hopper and Mr. Doiron who abstained and the motion passed.
The Superintendent updated the board on changes that are being required for the nutrition program. One area is Breakfast after the Bell where breakfast will be offered after the bell rings. Another change is that students who previously received reduced meal cost will now receive free lunch in Maine. Fresh fruit is also going to be provided for all the schools in the near future.
The Superintendent then shared with the board new staff hire specifically Brooke Dunphey, as a school psychological service provider. He also shared the resignation of Mr. Jason Richard, a fifth grade teacher. Mr. Dioron made the motion to accept the resignation and was seconded by Ms. Mallett and the motion passed unanimously.
The Assistant Superintendent shared with the board the ESEA 19/20 application for their approval. She gave an overview of the funds and answered questions.
The Assistant Superintendent updated the board on the Elementary and Secondary Education Act Application and shared the information regarding the use of funding for the upcoming 19/20 school year.
ESEA overview for 2019/2020
Title IA: total funds: ($546,917.00) plus Title IV funds ($52,641.72) total: $599,558.72
(Lebanon) $296,044.86
( Berwick) $296,044.86
$2,000 homeless
$5,469 Parental Involvement (1% of initial award)
Title IA Funding: Lebanon and Berwick, $592,089.72
At risk students will be identified in grades K-5. Support will be provided to those students that have been identified through a series of assessments to help them attain adequate progress in classroom assessments and on screening assessments (DIBELS, Early Numeracy, STAR). Title 1A money will be used to pay salary and benefits of Title 1A teachers and educational technicians.
Educational technicians and/or teachers will work with students individually or in small groups, doing skill activities to review the skills in need of more instruction as determined through district and classroom assessments. Staff will sometimes reteach skills that are not secure or do activities that focus on skills that are determined to be weak Other Title 1 students will be placed in groups that will use a particular program such as: Targeted Reading or Math, Great Leaps Reading or Math, Compass Learning, Leveled Literacy Intervention, Fundations, FAME, LiPS, Keymath. Individual skills will be assessed to determine whether or not adequate progress has been made.
Student success will be measured with regular classroom assessments: Eureka Math unit assessments, running records, informal assessments and DIBELS, Early Numeracy, and STAR. 40% of all identified students will successfully meet this standard.
A whole school approach will be taken in Lebanon and a targeted needs approach will continue in Berwick.
Parental Involvement Activities: $5469.00
Activities to encourage parental support, understanding and participation with the school and with the students identified as requiring services in both Lebanon and Berwick.
Mandated Homeless Set aside: $2000.00
This funding covers the coordination of our homeless students, securing transportation, providing books and materials and support supplies as necessary. We provide supplies and materials to students and families as needed. We coordinate all transportation with the appropriate school districts and track and maintain homeless data for the district and state.
Title IIA… Professional Development for Staff and Administration: $93,351.00
STAR $7200
Ongoing professional development will be provided by a trained staff member in MSAD 60 who will have access to all STAR information, will set up individual and group trainings and provide support in utilization of the STAR testing scores for classroom teachers. All teachers who participate in the individual and group training will increase their understanding and use of the STAR testing scores.
Literacy Coach and mentoring program NMS- $79,500 and mentor $2300… $81,800
Literacy coach will maintain records to identify staff who have had direct instruction in the areas of literacy strategies and she will maintain notes on follow up classroom visits. In 80% of the cases, the literacy coach will be able to observe strategies that were taught and see them being incorporated in the classroom settings.
Mentor teacher K-5, 2 days per week $4351
We have a mentor teacher who works with first and second year staff grades K-5. This funding will cover approximately 1/5 of her time. She will work with all new staff in each of the elementary schools and provide consistent information, support and ongoing professional development and advice. This is not a position that includes evaluation, it is purely a mentor role.
Title IVA Student Supports & Academic Enrichment $4,000
Title IVA funds will be utilized to purchase a contract with Panorama Education which provides school climate surveys at various levels that we will be able to utilize for focusing on school climate improvement in each of the schools.
Title V (Formerly Title VI), Rural Funds $22,698.83
Title V funds will be used to partially pay for Erin Dickson as the part time Health Coordinator for our district. Our district health coordinator focuses on curriculum in the area of health and wellness for both students and staff. This person is responsible for the oversight of the health curriculum in the district, the implementation of staff wellness programming as well as increasing student awareness and education in the specific area of substance use and abuse (tobacco, alcohol, and drugs). The coordinator makes connections with outside agencies to provide appropriate staff development and also programming for students. She is also taking a very active role in our implementation of the Building Assets and Reducing Risks (BARR) program at the middle and high school. The increased support provides opportunities for at risk students to improve their academic performance and meet curriculum standards as barriers to learning are reduced.
Total Funds to be expended: 719,608.55
Ms. Beal made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Neubert to approve the ESEA application as presented by the Assistant Superintendent. All members voted in favor and the motion passed.
The Superintendent shared with the board an update from The Adult Education realm:
I am very pleased to share the news below. Congratulations Maine Adult Education! Your hard work and dedication are going to be showcased statewide!
Brenda Gagne will be the representative to accept the award on behalf of the regional HUB.
Here is the award notification:
Dear Adult Education Champions:
Your tireless work on behalf of the people of Maine does not go unnoticed. The Maine Adult Education System has been selected as MDF’s 2019 Champion of Education and Workforce Development! Congratulations! We would like to highlight the variety of work you do throughout Maine to support education and workforce training in all of its various iterations from North to South and East to West. Your versatility, community engagement, responsiveness, and collaborative nature truly put you at the nexus of education and employment.
To that end, we’d like to honor the whole system, and you as its representatives, on Friday, September 27th, 2019. We hope you are available to be with us in Bangor from 11 am – 2pm for the award ceremony. (One representative from each region.)
I’m so pleased to be able to give you this news – for all my friends and colleagues in Adult Education.
Congratulations, again;
Lisa
Lisa MacDonald Cooper | Project Manager, Maine Adult Promise |
Program Director, Education & Workforce Development
Maine Development Foundation | 2 Beech St., Ste. 203 Hallowell | ME 04347
O: 207-626-3117 | M: 207-406-0048 | www.mdf.org
The Superintendent then shared with board an update on the construction committee.
Ms. Neubert made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Potter to adjourn. All members voted in favor and the motion passed.
Adjourned at 7:56 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Steve Connolly
Secretary of the Board