Plummer-Motz School Class Sites

Falmouth School Board
Regular Meeting
Monday, March 21, 2005

1. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Falmouth High School ATM room. Present were Chairman Beppie Cerf, Steve Brinn, Linda Cote, Truth Holden, Susan Nevins, Kathy Hillman-Reed, Mark Terison, Student Representatives David Sinnett and Chris Murry, Superintendent George Entwistle and approximately 13 others.

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

3. Adjustments to Agenda: Superintendent Entwistle added an item under 13c- New Business - ‘Proposal for Redefining Days for the End of this School Year’ moving the Executive Session to 13d.

4. Minutes: Mr. Brinn with a second from Mrs. Nevins moved the Board approve the minutes of February 17, 2005. Mr. Terison noted that under 5c the date should read February “17” rather than “27”. The corrected minutes were approved 7-0.

5. Communications
a. The district received a copy of a thank you letter to Jerry Barry and members of the Iron Twinkies for their wonderful performance at the third annual “Fat Tuesday” fundraiser.

6. Comments from the Public: There were none.

7. Recognition:
a. Mrs. Hillman-Reed pointed out that Peter Gustavson won the Travis Roy Hockey Award for Class A Ice Hockey.

8. Superintendent’s Report:
On behalf of the Leadership Council, Superintendent Entwistle thanked Board members for their hard work, considerable time and effort that went into the budget development process. The Superintendent attended the Grade 4 Native American Pow Wow. He also mentioned that great strides continue to be made on the Community Dialogue.

9. Principals’ Reports
a. Lunt School: Ms. Johnson reported that parent conferences are being held. The walking program has been connected to the Lewis & Clark Reading Program. She reported that the transitional first grade originally planned as a 2 year “loop” seems more appropriate as a “catch up” year. Placement for those interested in that program has begun. Invitations to the April 5th Arts Evening were distributed.

b. Plummer-Motz: Mrs. Boffa pointed out MEA testing has just finished. She thanked parents for sending in healthy snacks. Grade level expectations for math and reading will be given to 3rd graders this week. The choral concert will be held March 22nd, the Arts night will be on April 7th, and the White House Teas will be held on April 12 and 13.

c. Falmouth Middle School: Mr. Rodman reported grade 8 MEA testing had been completed. There were a few technical problems with online testing but overall the testing went well. The Iron Twinkies won the State Jazz Festival. The 5th grade will be participating in the 8 week physical fitness program, ’Maine in Motion’.

d. Falmouth High School: Mrs. Hutton reported students in grades 9-11 have participated in preliminary course sign-ups on line; the third quarter has been extended by one week to April 8; report cards will be distributed on April 14th; the first Senior Volunteer Day will be on May 5th; the senior class is sponsoring a Special Olympics Basketball Clinic on March 26; and David Sinnett is the DAR Award recipient this year. Falmouth hosted the Regional Theater Festival last weekend and won for Class A. The Art Show will be held on March 22nd. The All Schools Choral Concert will be held on March 22nd. Mrs. Hutton congratulated Peter Gustavson as the Travis Roy Award Winner and Gina Mancini who received the MVP award in swimming.

e. Director of Quality Educational Services: Mrs. Powers reported the first round of reports of student performance to freshmen parents went well. The physical science review committee will be ready for board presentation in April. Transition planning between middle and high school is taking place. A committee charged with revising the continuing contract evaluation and supervision process has met twice with FEA reps and Debbie Johnson represents the principals.

f. Technology Integration Coordinator: Ms. Palfrey reported the community resources data base is up and running. Ms. Palfrey is offering two separate short courses on Differentiated Instruction Using Technology for middle and high school teachers. She then highlighted several ways teachers are using technology in the classrooms. In chemistry and physics there are a lot of labs that are technology-based that save time and resources. A student iTeam at the High School is interested in expanding their multimedia and web authoring skills and will be helping with the Falmouth website.

g. Business Manager: Mr. O’Shea reported that work had finished at the budget workshops with an additional savings of $55,000 realized and the addition of a half-time Middle School Health position. The overall impact of the FY06 budget will reduce the tax impact. A sound consultant has met with the high school to evaluate the sound system for the gym and will hopefully propose a reasonably priced solution before graduation. After meeting with town officials regarding shared resources, individual department leaders are meeting on specific tasks and will report out findings at the next meeting. Police, fire and school officials met on March 14 to review crisis management plans for the high school to establish a user-friendly, flip-chart booklet to use as a quick reference in case of emergencies. Communication is ongoing. Of 66 capital project applications received by the State, Lunt School scored 18th, Plummer-Motz School scored 34th, and the Middle School scored 65th. There is a NESDEC Facilities Conference on April 13th that Falmouth personnel will attend. Technology leaders in the district will be attending a state-wide ATM conference broadcast to hear how best to plan for future technology needs and spending within the Essential Programs and Services (EPS).

h. Director of Special Services: Ms. Crowell reported the new Special Education website is up and running. The parent survey which is designed to gather feedback from parents who have been through the Special Education Referral process and through the PET annual review process is available on the website. The final draft of the K-12 Student Records Management Procedures is complete and is being sent to principals and the Records Committee for final review and editing. The Federal IDEA law has been re-authorized and staff will be going to various workshops in the next year to learn about the new law. The Youth Alternatives Program is moving to Falmouth. A meeting with the department of Education staff is scheduled for April 8th in order to learn more about the school responsibilities to this program. Planning is underway for the Extended School Year Services Program for this summer.

i. Athletic Director: Mr. Hurley reviewed the successful winter sports team records and listed the new coaches that were hired as follows: Deirdre Regan as JV Softball Coach; Katie Spires – Gr. 7 Softball Coach and Ed Rogers – Gr. 7 Baseball Coach. Mr. Hurley pointed out that the Winter Sports Award Night will be on March 29th at 6:00 pm.

10. Committee Reports
a. Finance Sub-Committee: Mrs. Hilman-Reed reported the next step in the budget process is to confirm a joint meeting of the Town Council and School Board Finance Committees.

b. Facilities Sub-Committee: Mr. Terison reported the committee is waiting to receive the engineering reports for Plummer-Motz. The Town has set up a process to address the Falmouth Corner Development and, as Plummer-Motz and Lunt are located in the planning area, Mrs. Cerf and Mr. Terison will share the job of representing the school.

c. Policy Sub-Committee: Mrs. Nevins included notes in the packet and stated the Committee is beginning to transfer the policy manual into electronic form. The Board will see a group of policies that can be deleted within the next month. Administrative Procedures to the Chemical Health Policy will be brought back to Board with a couple of clarifications and will be put on the website.

11. Items for Information
a. Lisa Derman has been hired as a long term substitute for a grade 2 teacher who will be on maternity leave for the remainder of the year.

12. Unfinished Business: There was none.

13. New Business
a. Schedule B Appointments (attached): Mr. Brinn with a second from Mrs. Cote moved the Board approve the list of schedule B appointments submitted. After some discussion about Mr. Hurley coaching lacrosse in addition to his duties as Athletic Director, the Board approved the motion 7-0.

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b. Sabbatical Request: As Chair of the Sabbatical Application Committee, Mrs. Powers recommended the request from Christine Labbe for a one year Sabbatical be approved. Superintendent Entwistle added that a final condition for approval was to require that Mrs. Labbe make her final research report and findings available through the new Community Resources Directory. Mrs. Hillman-Reed with a second from Mrs. Cote moved the Board approve the Sabbatical request for Christine Labbe for the SY05-06. The motion was approved 7-0.

c. Proposal for Redefining Days at the End of the School Year: The Superintendent explained that the five snow days this year moved the end of school date to June 21st. He proposed making June 17 the last full day of school for students. To preserve instructional time, he asked school staff to dispense with all but the very essential ‘end of school celebrations’. The staff days, June 20, 21, and 22, would be structured with clear objectives and outcomes. Mr. Terison with a second from Mrs. Hillman-Reed moved the Board accept the Superintendent’s proposal and the motion passed 7-0.

Mrs. Cerf reviewed the upcoming dates and the Board took a short break at 8:45 p.m.

d. Executive Session: Mrs. Hillman-Reed with a second from Mrs. Cote moved the Board go into Executive Session for the purpose of continuing discussion or the evaluation of the Superintendent and finalizing a Superintendent Evaluation Policy and procedure as per 1 M.R.S.A. § 405 (6) (A). The motion passed 7-0.

14. Adjournment: The Board came out of Executive Session and on the motion made by Mr. Terison and seconded by Mrs. Holden, the Board adjourned the meeting at 9:46 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

George H. Entwistle 3rd
Secretary

Last Updated: 12/8/05

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