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- Minutes of December 5, 2024
MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ MEETING OF December 5, 2024 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 December 5, 2024 at 7:00 pm with all members attending . Pledge of Allegiance There were 37 in the audience. Ms. Whalen made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Wheeler to postpone the executive session pursuant to 1 MRSA 405§(6)(D)Labor Contract Negotiations- Teacher. All members voted in favor and the motion passed. Ms. Whalen made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Wheeler to move the Superintendent’s Update to Item #4. All members voted in favor and the motion passed. Ms. Whalen read the public input statement. Public Input: Ms. Joyce Tabor of North Berwick expressed her opinion of the previous school board meeting’s public input session. She noted that a speaker was allowed to exceed his speaking time limits without intervention. She argued that the speaker's negative tone undermined their message and set a poor example, especially with students present. Ms. Tabor also shared that she felt the chairperson failed to enforce meeting rules and manage the speaker's conduct, which should include maintaining decorum and limiting speaking time. Ms. Tabor called for swift changes to transform the board into a more professional body that can engage in respectful, open-minded dialogue. Ms. Jennifer Dillon, of Lebanon, expressed concerns regarding the previous board meeting's divisive tone and inconsistent use of the Norms card, calling for more respectful and professional communication. She thanked two board members for developing goals, even though they were rejected at the previous meeting. Ms. Dillon noted what she believed are community concerns about academic performance, mentioning the recent loss of a math teacher due to disagreements about grading and test policies. She urged the board to re-evaluate the academic support system and maintain a more constructive approach to addressing educational challenges. Minutes: Ms. Janousek made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Herlihy to accept the minutes of November 21, 2024 meeting as amended. All members voted in favor except Mr. Tabor who opposed and Ms. Lovejoy and Ms. Basko who abstained and the motion passed. Superintendent Update: Mr. Aaron Moore, Athletic Director introduced our Noble High School Football team representatives. Mr. Keenan Blindow, our Varsity Football Coach, shared with the board the overall season and the success that they had in the season. Support staff negotiations Wed. the 11th at 3:15 The Teacher's Negotiations group will meet next week to prepare. School Safety Overviews: Mr. AJ Dufort, principal of Noble High School shred an overview of ALICE A lert L ockdown I nform C ounter E vacuate It is very tangible for students. It is reviewed at the beginning of the school year for our students by our staff. The goal is to maximize safety. Crisis Go : Mr. Archambault, principal of Noble Middle School gave an overview of the application Crisis Go and how it is utilized in all of the schools throughout the district. There are safety committees in each of the buildings. Schools are required to hold drills each year. There are 10 required at the elementary levels and 8 at middle and high school. We discussed the options for getting out of our buildings and what to do if we need to stay in the building. There is a lot of emphasis on practicing good listening skills. The Fire Department comes over and gives feedback on routing, timing, efficiency etc. Ms. Basko made the motion and it was seconded by Mr. Tabor to move Pre-K conversation above the board goals. All members voted in favor and the motion passed. Pre-K Grant Discussion Dr. Shannon Swiger, Director of Teaching and Learning and Mr. AJ Dufort, Principal of NHS gave an overview of the Pre K grant and what it would mean to the district both long term academically as well as financially. The board had lengthy conversations regarding the Pre K program and board members expressed their opinions regarding the grant and what happens with the program after the one year grant is completed.. Ms Wheeler made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Herlihy to accept the One Year State of Maine Expansion Grant for Preschool for FY 26. All members voted in favor except Ms. Basko and the motion passed. Board Goals- w/motion: The Superintendent shared the final draft of the goals with the board. Board members shared their opinions regarding the various goals and specifically around academic achievement. An attachment that will get updated regularly will be provided as well. Ms. Janousek made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Wheeler to approve the Board Goals. All members voted in favor except Ms. Sewell and Mr. Tabor and the motion passed. Employment: Ms. Wheeler made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Lovejoy to accept the resignation of Stanley Scontras, Math Teacher at Noble High School. All members voted in favor and the motion passed. Other: The Superintendent shared with the board that we are trying to move the board meetings back to the library if the sound systems are up and running. The set up in the library for the board is more conducive conversation and being able to see each other and who is speaking. This should help with the norms. Please check the agendas for location of the meetings. We will move to the library as soon as possible. The board chair reminded the board to use their school board email addresses instead of their personal email addresses. Ms. Basko spoke about the misuse of norms and the bullying tactics directed at another board member. She expressed concern regarding math and science performances as testing scores have been declining since 2013. Ms. Basko expressed concern about the NWEA and how it may not help students improve as it compares students on a ranking scale and does not tell what students know. Ms. Basko feels the board needs to take some responsibility for the declining performances and stop wasting time with history lessons and attacks on the board members who are trying to make changes. Ms. Janousek noted that the North Berwick PTO won first place in the Holiday Parade in North Berwick. Public Input None at this time. Adjournment: Ms. Janousek made a motion and it was seconded by Ms. Basko to adjourn the meeting. All members voted in favor and the motion passed. Adjourned at 9:15 pm. Respectfully submitted, Audra Beauvais
- Agenda December 19, 2024
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICT NO. 60 BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ Meeting December 19, 2024 Noble High School Lecture Hall North Berwick, Maine 03906 Workshop 6:30 (Library) Meeting 7:00pm AGENDA 6:30pm Library Board Workshop- Annual Legislation Check-In Call to Order Pledge of Allegiance Public Input Statement-Vice Chair Public Input Minutes of December 5, 2024 November Financial Summary Policy First Reading ACAA Harassment and Sexual Harassment of Students ACAA-R Student Discrimination/Harassment and Title IX Sexual Harassment Complaint Procedures January Meeting Dates Employment Superintendent Update Other Public Input Executive Session 1 MRSA §405(6)(D) Labor Contract Negotiations- Teacher Executive Session 1 MRSA §405(6)(D) Labor Contract Negotiations- Support Staff Adjournment
- Minutes of November 21, 2024
MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ MEETING OF November 21, 2024 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.) Ms. Wheeler made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Whalen to approve the amendment to the agenda removing the executive session that was scheduled for the beginning of the meeting. All members voted in favor and the motion passed. Ms. Wheeler made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Whalen to approve the amendment to the agenda removing the executive session that was scheduled for the end of the meeting. All members voted in favor and the motion passed. Pledge of Allegiance There were 29 in the audience. Ms. Whalen read the public input statement. Public Input: None at this time. Minutes: Ms. Janousek made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Wheeler to accept the minutes of November 7, 2024 meeting as amended. All members voted in favor and the motion passed. Norms Checker: Looking for the volunteer to be the norm checker for the evening. Ms. Janousek volunteered to be the norm checker for this evening. October Financial Summary: Ms. Denise Van Campen, Business Manager, shared with the board the financial summary for the General Fund as of October 31, 2024. Board members asked some clarifying questions and Ms. Van Campen responded. Annual Legislative Check-In: York County Superintendents Association gathered the local legislators to discuss Education Priorities for York County. The Assistant Superintendent shared with the board an overview of what occurred at the Thursday evening meeting for those who were not able to attend. There was a presentation to the legislators and all who attended regarding the current issues in our county in meeting the needs of our homeless populations. There was emphasis placed on the need to support the local shelters that are exceedingly utilized by a wide range of people in need. Representatives from Caring Unlimited, The York County Shelter in Alfred, York County Community Action and Fair Tide were there to share their experiences as well as The Superintendent of the Sanford Schools to discuss the impact of homelessness on the schools. Following that discussion, the group moved to a school based discussion that was facilitated by the York County Superintendents Association. Concerns regarding the many mandates that have come out of the legislature were discussed as well as unfunded mandates. Board Goals Discussion: The Superintendent shared with the board our overall draft goals (See these here). She also shared copies of a few area district goals as a comparison. Ms. Herlihy noted that the goals from York that contained action steps, timeline and evidence were visually appealing and she’d like to have that with ours as well. Mr. Tabor had a presentation regarding goals that he also would like to share. Prior to the presentation, the board then had a lengthy discussion regarding information that had been shared on social media and following Board Norms as there were some concerns regarding the accuracy of the information/misperceptions regarding the board not having worked on goals for the past several years. As well, as posting these goals on social media before sharing with the board in general first. The Norm that was noted was “We stand together with our decisions.” Mr. Josh Tabor shared with the board an overview of his suggestions for goals (see attached). There was discussion about rigorous curriculum, assessments that are criterion referenced and not norm referenced as most of our assessments are a mix of those. (For instance, the state assessment is through the NWEA system and has both criterion referenced as well as norm referenced items). Mr. Tabor and Ms. Sewell felt that solely criterion referenced should be the course. After further discussion regarding goals, Ms. Wheeler made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Herlihy to adopt the strategic goal plans that the board has been working on with potential formatting that allows for including evidence. All members voted in favor except Mr. Tabor, Ms. Basko and Ms. Sewell who opposed and the motion passed. Nomination of Food Service Director - Chef David Vargas The Superintendent shared the nomination of Chef David Vargas as School Nutrition Director. Mr. Tabor made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Wheeler to approve the nomination of Mr. David Vargas as MSAD 60 School Nutrition Director. All members voted in favor and the motion passed. Employment: None at this time Superintendent Update: MSAD 60 was chosen to receive the Pre-K grant that will allow us to provide Pre-K throughout the district if we choose to accept the grant. More information to follow. Very exciting. Mark Hubbard, guidance counselor in Lebanon was chosen for the Maine School Counselor Emerging Counselor Award for 2024. Ms. Lori Coleman, guidance counselor as well in Lebanon, nominated Mr. Hubbard. A well deserved honor! . Brenda Cravens is formally leaving the district tomorrow as a retiree after 42 years. We thank her wholeheartedly for her service! December 5th Principals will come in to do a quick overview of their safety procedures. Other: Celebration! Noble’s basketball team is rated as Number one going into the start of the season. Our Noble Football team did an outstanding job in their playoff game. They fell to the Thornton Academy team but had a fabulous season. Update from the PTOs regarding their cereal drive. Knowlton School is doing an ornament drive with sponsoring a child for clothing in our district. Suggestion setting up a subcommittee on assessment throughout the year. How do the NWEA individual tests go out to parents? Within report cards at the elementary level. Others were already mailed at the upper levels. Our website needs to be more up to date. That is definitely a constant work in progress. Ms. Wheeler noted that North Berwick Elementary School had a lovely Veteran’s Day celebration. Ms. Sewell asked about our prior board goals. Those will be provided. Public Input: Dr. Joe Forte, North Berwick, noted that the board spent a lot of time last year on the budget rather than goals. He shared his concerns regarding the impact of one size fits all statements. For instance, a one size fits all statement about behavior is not reasonable. He encouraged less anecdotal and hearsay. Let’s give them more support and staff, Universal Pre K, etc. He asked How can we improve trends when you undercut the costs… Why aren’t you supporting educators more and students more? Note: Mr. Tabor did feel that the statements by Dr. Forte were targeting him personally and asked that the chair ask him to stop. She did note that the attorney had shared that as an elected official, short of very offensive and or abusive language she was not able to stop the public input prior to the three minute cutoff. Adjournment: Ms. Janoussek 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 8:43 pm. Respectfully submitted, Audra Beauvais
Other Pages (26)
- Maine | MSAD #60 | Special Education
Special Education Student Records Parent Resources Staff Resources Same Goal Definitions Contact Us Services MSAD 60 is committed to identifying, evaluating, and supporting children within the district or attending private schools in the area who may qualify for special education services or accommodations. Eligible children include those with: Autism Deaf-blindness Developmental delay Emotional or behavioral disabilities Hearing impairments Intellectual disabilities Multiple disabilities Orthopedic impairments Other health impairments Specific learning disabilities Speech or language impairments Traumatic brain injuries Visual impairments If you believe your child may have a disability requiring special education services, or if you need more information, please contact your child’s teacher, principal, or the Special Education Department at (207) 676-2234 ext. 6. Student Records MSAD 60 maintains special education records for 10 years following a student’s graduation or exit from the school system. These records are securely stored during this period. At the end of the 10th year, in July, the records are permanently shredded to ensure confidentiality. If you wish to obtain copies of these records before they are destroyed, please contact the Special Education Department at (207) 676-2234 ext. 6. Definitions Special Education "Special Education" means specially designed instruction, at no cost to parents, to meet the unique needs of children with disabilities, as defined by the commissioner, including: (a) Instruction conducted in the classroom, in the home, in hospitals and institutions and in other settings; and (b) Instruction in physical education. (MSSR 20-A 7001.5) Individualized Education Plan The Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is a written document that describes the educational plan designed to meet your child's individual needs. Every child who receives special education must have an IEP. Evaluation An individual evaluation means any procedures, tests, or assessments, including observations, given individually to your child to find out whether he or she has a disability and/or to identify his or her special needs. The term does not include basic tests given to groups of children in a school, grade or class. Section 504 Section 504 is part of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which was enacted by Congress to combat discrimination against individuals with disabilities in services, programs and activities administered by any entity that received federal funds, including public schools. Adverse Effect Adverse effect/Adversely affects. The word “adverse” commonly means “harmful, impeding, obstructing, or detrimental.” To “adversely affect” means to have a negative impact that is more than a minor or transient hindrance, evidenced by findings and observations based on data sources and objective assessments with replicable results. An adverse effect on educational performance does not include a developmentally appropriate characteristic of age/grade peers in the general population. Contact Us Special Education Director Melissa Adams Assistant Special Education Director Nicole Bothwell Admin Assistant Talia Pierce Amanda Crim Address MSAD 60 Central Office Special Education 100 Noble Way North Berwick, ME 03906 Contact Call: 207-676-2234 EXT 6 Fax: 207-676-3215 Staff NEW Infinite Campus Community Input School Menus Strategic Plan Calendar Calendar NEW Transportation
- Contact Us | MSAD #60
Contact US Address MSAD 60 - Noble High School 100 Noble Way North Berwick, ME 03906 Phone 207-676-2234 FAX 207-676-3229 Email msad60-info@msad60.org Social Media S A fety Concerns Alert us to your safety-related concerns through our anonymous link: Report Saftey Concerns Community Input Your input matters! Please take a moment to fill out our community input form and share your thoughts to help shape the future of our schools! Community Input NEW Infinite Campus Community Input School Menus Strategic Plan Calendar Calendar NEW Transportation
- Now Hiring | MSAD #60
Employment Opportunities MSAD #60 advertises open positions on Schoolspring.com. Please click this link: Schoolspring.com to apply online. If you have any questions please call Patti Megele at the Central Office: 207-676-2234. Please do not inquire at School sites. MSAD #60 Affirmative Action Plan Title IX Coordinator; Sue Austin 100 Noble Way North Berwick, Maine 03906 (207)676-2234 Ext 1 NEW Infinite Campus Community Input School Menus Strategic Plan Calendar Calendar NEW Transportation