Plummer-Motz School Class Sites

Falmouth School Board
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, January 18, 2005

1. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Falmouth High School ATM room. Present were Steve Brinn, Linda Cote, Truth Holden, Susan Nevins, Kathy Hillman-Reed, Mark Terison, Student Representative David Sinnett, and Superintendent George Entwistle (Cerf and Murry out). In Mrs.Cerf’s absence, Mrs. Hillman-Reed chaired the meeting.

2. Pledge of Allegiance: All in attendance recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

3. Adjustments to Agenda:
a. As the two items listed under Unfinished Business will require some time, the Superintendent asked that the Principals’ reports be brief. Also, “a” and “b” under #12 will be reversed.

4. Minutes: Mrs. Nevins with a second from Mrs. Holden moved the Board approve the minutes of December 20, 2004 and January 3, 2005. The minutes were approved 6-0.

5. Communications:
a. Mrs. Hillman-Reed explained the meeting was being held in the ATM room because the Town Council needed the Chambers. She thanked teachers John Kraljic and Beth Donovan and their students for videotaping the meeting.

6, Comments from the Public: There were none.

7. Recognition
a. National Board Certified Teachers: Mrs. Powers explained the rigorous process required for National Board Certification and announced that three teachers from Falmouth had achieved this prestigious certification. Mrs. Hillman-Reed then presented certificates of recognition to Linda D’Apolito and Wendy Northrup. Joanna Leary was unable to attend the meeting.
b. Recognition of Tsunami Relief Fundraising Project:
1. Ellie MacEwan, gr. 6 student, was presented with a certificate of recognition for her creative idea to make and sell note cards to raise funds for the Tsunami victims. A total of $4,000 was raised.
2. Matt Gagnon, Sales Manager for Staples Office Supply Co., was presented with a certificate of recognition for his and his company’s generous support of the school in donating paper supplies for this fundraising effort.
c. NCLB Achievement Certificates:
1. As Principal of Plummer-Motz School, Mrs. Boffa was presented with three certificates recognizing Plummer-Motz School as an Improving School for Math at Grade 4, as a Consistently High Performing School for Math in Grade 4, and as a Consistently High Performing School for Reading in Grade 4. Mrs. Boffa praised Mrs. Powers’ leadership as Principal.
2. As Principal of Falmouth High School, Mrs. Hutton was awarded a certificate recognizing Falmouth High School as a Consistently High Performing School for Reading at Grade 11.
3. Mrs. Johnson congratulated Mrs. Farmer’s class who collected $2,416 in pennies for the Tsunami Relief.

8. Superintendent’s Report: Superintendent Entwistle referred the Board to his written report provided in the agenda packet and published on the School’s website.

9. Principals’Reports: All reports were provided in the packet and published on the district’s website.
a. Lunt School
b. Plummer-Motz School
c. Falmouth Middle School
d. Falmouth High School
e. Director of Quality Educational Services
f. Technology Integration Coordinator
g. Business Manager
h. Director of Special Services (Quarterly)
i. Athletic Director

10. Committee Reports
a. Finance Subcommittee: Mrs. Hillman-Reed reported the Town Council and School Board held a joint dinner meeting to discuss 2006 budget development. The Board presented the district goals for budget work this year and an overall timeline for budget development.
b. Facilities Subcommittee: Mr. Terison reported the committee will be meeting at the end of January or early February with recently hired attorney, David Ray.
c. Policy Subcommittee: Mrs. Nevins explained the committee is in the process of undertaking a review of the Policy Manual.

11. Items for Information:
a. Lisa Parsons has been hired as an Educational Technician III at Plummer-Motz in the Special Services Department.
b. David Jellis has been hired as an Educational Technician III at the Middle School in the Special Services Department.

12. Unfinished Business:
A. Update on Action Planning in response to the Community Dialogue: In providing an update on the Community Dialogue, Superintendent Entwistle began by explaining the sequence of events since he started on July 1st. He interviewed 70 stakeholders during the summer whereby the three main themes for improving Falmouth Schools emerged. These three themes framed the Community Dialogue in October where 42 dialogues took place with more than 60 pages of data from the proceedings. The Leadership Council has been working since October analyzing and synthesizing the data to 5 main goals as follows:

Goal 1: Establish a culture of wellness that supports the physical, social and emotional well-being of all of the members of our school community (students, faculty, staff).
Goal 2: Acknowledge and respect the wide range of student ability and offer diverse and appropriate learning opportunities for all.
Goal 3: Remain committed to building a supportive, professional learning community for the teaching staff.
Goal 4: Prioritize organizational needs and reallocate time accordingly.
Goal 5: Recognize and optimize the role of community resources in student learning partnerships.

The Leadership Council has established seven (7) 18-month targets for action panning. Each administrator then listed projects/initiatives which are planned during this 18-month period for each target at the school level and at the district level along with expected outcomes and timeframes for each goal.

b. Update on 05-06 Budget Development: Mr. O’Shea provided a budget planning calendar stating the district is on schedule. Since the January 3rd meeting, the Board and Town Council have had a dinner meeting regarding the budget, the Leadership Council has reviewed and prioritized new requests, and updated enrollment projections were received. Mr. O’Shea reported that Falmouth should receive additional State revenues in the amount of $785,000.

13. New Business
a. Standards-Based Diploma for the High School: Superintendent Entwistle distributed a proposal for exploring a Falmouth graduation certificate as high school diplomas will only be given by the State to students who demonstrate they have met all required standards as required by the State starting with this freshman class. He asked for the Board’s endorsement to continue with this exploration coming back to the Board within the next two or three months. Mrs. Powers explained the committee has been exploring what the district might offer to students in addition to the standards-based diploma to continue to motivate students. Mrs. Holden agreed to serve on the Task Force and the Board endorsed continuing with this exploration.
b. Consideration of the Superintendent’s nominations for the following Schedule B positions:
1. Beth Westra, Social Studies Content Area Teacher Leader
2. Julie McDonald, Gr. 7 Team Leader (1/2)
Mr. Brinn with a second from Mrs. Holden moved the Board approve these two nominations. The motion passed 6-0.

14. Adjournment: Mr. Brinn with a second from Mrs. Holden moved the meeting be adjourned. The motion passed 6-0 and the meeting adjourned at 9:35 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

George H. Entwistle 3rd, Ed.D.
Secretary

Last Updated: 12/8/05

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