Minutes of September 18, 2025

MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ MEETING OF September 18, 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 September 18, 2025 at 7:00 pm with all members attending except Ms. Herlihy.

There were 8 members of the public present. 

Pledge of Allegiance

Ms. Wheeler made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Basko to table the board goals discussion to our next meeting. There was discussion regarding whether the full discussion needed to be moved if the administration is able to answer any of these questions this evening. Other board members noted they would prefer to wait for the full discussion based on everyone having full understanding of the concerns   All members voted in favor except Mr. Tabor, Ms. Sewell and Ms. Basko who opposed and the motion passed. 

Public Input: 

*Public Input is the opinion of the public and not 

Mr. Kevin Jessell, of Berwick Maine, addressed the school board with concerns about their district having the lowest per-pupil spending in York County by several thousand dollars. He proposed that the board should consider building a new school in Lebanon, suggesting there's enough room in the budget between their current spending and county averages to make this feasible without breaking the bank. He recommended starting with a student survey that could then be presented to the community to assess the actual need and build public support for what would need to be a collaborative community project. He praised the board's recent fiscal management, noting the district has been debt-free since 2021, and emphasized that strategic spending could address the space concerns in Lebanon. 

Minutes: 

Mr. Tabor made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Cyr to table the minutes of September 4, 2025 to be revised to summary format. 

The board discussed the format of meeting minutes, specifically whether to continue with detailed transcription-style minutes or return to summary format following Robert's Rules of Order. Board members expressed concerns about the time-intensive nature of detailed minutes and suggested that technology solutions like transcription software might be more appropriate if full transcripts are desired. The consensus favored returning to summary-style minutes focusing on motions, actions, and key decisions while ensuring meeting videos remain accessible to the public. A motion was made and seconded to table the September 4th minutes approval and request administration revise them to summary format. All members voted in favor and the motion was passed. 

Live Streaming:  Administration presented options for live streaming board meetings, including using the Town of Berwick's conference room facilities for $60 per hour with professional streaming equipment and technical support. Concerns were raised about FERPA compliance, potential for false statements during live broadcasts, equipment reliability, and costs that could reach over $4,000 annually given meeting frequency and duration. After discussion, the board decided to maintain meetings within district schools while committing to post meeting recordings within 24 hours of each meeting. Mr. Tabor made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Cyr to hold our meetings within the district schools with the commitment to a 24 hour turn around for the video. All members voted in favor and the motion passed.

Employment:

None at this time.

Bus driver shortages continue, though arrival times have significantly improved from over 5:20 PM in the first week of school to approximately 4:40-4:45 PM currently. Morning transportation to schools has also shown vast improvement.

Superintendent Update:

The superintendent provided clarification about adult education classes being held at Knowlton School following community questions. Two classes are currently operating: "Dress a Girl" (a volunteer sewing group making clothing for girls in other countries) on Tuesdays with 7-9 participants, and Tai Chi in the gymnasium on Thursdays. All participants are escorted by adult education staff, use designated entrances, and do not have unsupervised access to the building. Background checks for volunteers were discussed as a potential enhancement to community confidence.

Facilities Planning

Extensive discussion occurred regarding the approach to facilities planning, including capital improvements and potential decisions about Lebanon Elementary. The board decided to schedule dedicated facilities meetings starting October 9th from 6:00-9:00 PM, with additional meetings as needed through December to meet budget timeline requirements. It was emphasized that Lebanon Elementary discussions would not be rushed and would include substantial community input and listening sessions. The facilities work will address capital improvement plans, building conditions, and long-term facility needs across the district.

Other 

Ms. Wheeler reported dangerous traffic conditions during student pickup at the Hussey School, with backups extending to Route 236 and creating unsafe situations. The addition of pre-kindergarten dismissal has exacerbated existing problems. Administration acknowledged the issue and noted that while staggered dismissal by grade level had been attempted previously, current staffing and logistics make this challenging. Administration is working to find solutions to the situation. Also of note is that with the driver shortage, more parents are having to pick up their students. There is hope this will lessen with increased driver hires.

Old Business:   Mr. Tabor requested for the board to consider Policy BEDB and it notes that agendas and supporting information will be mailed to each Board member on the Friday prior to the regular Thursday meeting.  There was more discussion regarding this issue. Ms. Janousek asked that the policy committee review this policy to bring it into the current timeline. 

Ms. Cyr asked if there had been a “report out” regarding the state visit of the Pre-K programs. There was nothing in writing, just a verbal note of the positive visit.

Ms. Cyr also asked about accommodations for students who are staying after school for practices on early release Wednesdays. Mr Dufort, principal of NMHS, shared that there was coverage for students who needed to stay afterschool through the start of practice. 

Public Input:

None at this time. 

Adjournment: 

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

Adjourned at 8:48  pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Audra Beauvais