Falmouth School Board Minutes

Falmouth School Board
Regular Meeting
Monday, September 17, 2007

 

  1. CALL TO ORDER:  The meeting was called to order at 7:01 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers.  Present were Beppie Cerf, Linda Cote, Karen Farber, Beth Franklin, Kathy Hillman-Reed (late), Scott Lydick, Mark Terison, Student Representatives Steve Hebson and Maureen Carney, Superintendent George Entwistle and approximately 10 others.
  1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:  All in attendance recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

  1. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA:  Superintendent Entwistle requested an Executive Session (Item 14) be added pursuant to 1 M.R.S.A 405(6)(A) Evaluation of officials/appointees/employees regarding a personnel matter.   
  1. MINUTES:
    1. Mr. Terison with a second from Mrs. Cote moved the Board approve the minutes of August 20, 2007.  The motion was approved 6-0.
    2. Mrs. Farber with a second from Mrs. Franklin moved the Board approve the minutes of September 4, 2007.  The motion was approved 6-0.

 

  1. COMMUNICATIONS:  There were none.
  1. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC:  There were none.

 

  1. RECOGNITION:  There was none.
  1. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT:
    1. Superintendent Entwistle commented that this has been a great start to the school year which can be attributed to advance planning and organizing done by the principals and their staff.  Superintendent Entwistle spoke briefly about consolidation and reported that the Falmouth representatives have all been identified for the Reorganization Planning Committee:  Beppie Cerf, Kathy Hillman-Reed, Joe Wrobleski and Peggy McGehee.  The first meeting of the entire committee will take place on September 24, 2007 and will be facilitated by Pam Plumb.  On September 12, 2007, Superintendent Entwistle and Dan O’Shea (along with Yarmouth’s and SAD51’s superintendents and business managers) had meet with Jim Reir (DOE Financial Analyst)to walk-through the results of the 3-district financial analysis that was completed more recently.  Important dates were given:  Rescheduled School Board retreat on September 28, 2007 and the Community Dialogue III on October 5.

 

  1. LEADERSHIP COUNCIL MEMBERS’ REPORTS:
    1. Lunt School:  Mr. Flaherty reviewed the Lunt School enrollment (K – 100, Gr. 1 – 163, Gr. 2 – 157) and commented that 50 new students registered a few weeks before school started.  Mr. Flaherty was pleased to inform the Board that tonight was the first open house and it appeared that there was 100% participation.  Mr. Flaherty announced that the Maine Harvest Lunch which will take place on September 26 and that classroom teachers are now having lunch with the students which has resulted in a calmer, more social atmosphere in the cafeteria.  He also announced that during the summer, July Scammell, Joy Halligan and Linda Jensenius prepared guides for the RTI process for classroom teachers and that the first meeting of the Student-Centered Team took place today.  Mr. Flaherty concluded his report by thanking the staff at Lunt School for an outstanding start to the school year.
    1. Plummer-Motz:  Mrs. Boffa highlighted the enrollment numbers at Plummer-Motz (Gr. 3 – 145 and Gr. 4 – 173) and stated that they have 18 new students and families.  Mrs. Boffa also announced that they will be holding the Maine Harvest Lunch on September 26 and that they too experienced a fantastic turnout at their open houses.  The AIMS assessment will be given to all third grade students individually this Friday as the beginning of their Response to Intervention plan.  Staff members are presently reading Choice Works:  How Our Language Affects Children’s Learning and they will be having a text-based discussion at their September faculty meeting.  Mrs. Boffa also thanked her staff for all their work in making the start to the school year so great.

 

    1. Falmouth Middle School:  Mr. Rodman commended the 7th and 8th grade student councils for their work last year to protect yearbooks from being ruined; there were no reports of vandalism compared to 51 incidents reported the prior year.    Mr. Rodman informed the group that the middle school is also participating in the Maine Harvest Lunch and stated that this has been the smoothest opening of school that he has had.  The staff has been great, especially considering the schedule changes.  He thanked Sue Palfrey, Assistant Principal, for all her work.  Mr. Rodman announced that NWEA testing began today, the first open house will take place on September 18, and the 6th graders will be heading to Camp Kieve next week.
    1. Falmouth High School:  Mrs. Hutton highlighted individual accomplishments of high school students:  Greg Jensen representated the State of Maine at Boys Nation in Washington, DC and 10 Falmouth students have been named semi finalists in the 53rd annual National Merit Scholarship Program (Sam Cobean, Jessica Everett, Catherine Hayes, Stephen Hebson, Anna Kellar, Christopher Morrison, Samual Norton, Brian Seitz, Rachel Swerdlow and Chloe Wolf).  Mrs. Hutton also announced that Alex Westervelt (FHS 2007 graduate) will be traveling to Ghana for a two-month service learning opportunity.  New course offerings include Acting, Dance, AP Eng 12, Photographic Imaging, 20th Century US History, Walk/Jog, Biking, Ceramics, and Middle Eastern and Asian Studies.  These offerings are already enrolled to the maximum.  The open house on September 19 will include information on the Parent Portal and September 18 there will be a Guidance presentation “On Course for College.”  The student forum will take place on September 27, 2007.

 

    1. Assistant Superintendent:  Mrs. Powers stated the weekly meetings for the literacy initiatives at Lunt, Plummer-Motz and the Middle School have all begun, with special focus on identifying any students who could benefit from reading instructional intervention in grade K-6.  Mrs. Powers also announced there will be two areas of initial curriculum focus this fall:  writing and math.  The Summer Academy (Lunt and Plummer-Motz) experienced excellent participation with over 50 children benefiting from intensive reading and math support as well as enjoying fun, confidence-building activities.  At the middle school and high school levels, Summer Academy experience was focused solely on study skills. 
    1. Director of Finance and Operations:  Mr. O’Shea handed out updated enrollment projections and indicated the largest change (increase) at the Lunt School.  Mr. O’Shea also gave an update on the elementary school construction project and reviewed the progress that has been made over the summer.  He announced that there will be a public forum regarding the construction project on October 15, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. during the regular School Board Meeting at the Town Hall.  Mr. O’Shea also indicated that the independent audit and review of our internal accounting controls has been ongoing for two weeks, and it is going well.

 

    1. Special Education Director:  Ms. Crowell stated that we began the new school year with 242 students identified as students with disabilities.  She also identified the new staff members and indicated that we are very fortunate to have them as members of our team.  Ms. Crowell also indicated that five special education staff members are being trained during this school year to earn their Wilson Reading Level One certification.  Ms. Crowell congratulated Gene Kucinkas for being named President of the LDA of Maine (Learning Disability Association).  This is a real honor for a teacher to hold this position.
    1. Athletic Director:  Mr. Livingston was not present as he was in attendance at athletic events.

 

  1. COMMITTEE REPORTS:
    1. Finance Sub-committee:  Mrs. Hillman-Reed reported the last workshop was a presentation by Bruce Smith regarding the Budget Validation Referendum Process that every school district is now required to follow.  The next committee meeting will take place prior to the October 1, 2007 workshop and will be a combined School Board/Town Council Finance Committee Meeting.
    1. Facilities Sub-committee:  Mr. Terison announced two important dates: the next committee meeting will take place on September 26, 2007 and the upcoming Public Forum, which will take place on October 15, 2007 during the regular School Board meeting at Town Hall.   

 

    1. Policy Sub-committee:  Mrs. Franklin reported that Peter Bingham is the Chair for MSAD 51 School Board, and they will be naming a Chair of their policy sub-committee tonight.

 

  1. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION:
    1. Current Openings:

                              Receptionist – Superintendent’s Office
                              Freshman Girls Basketball Coach
                              Food Service Worker

    1.             Kate Rand was hired as Ed. Tech III (Lunt/Plummer-Motz        Special Ed)

     

  1. UNFINISHED BUSINESS:  There were none.
  1. NEW BUSINESS:
    1. Mrs. Hillman-Reed with a second from Mr. Lydick moved the Board approve the middle school Schedule B assignments:

                  Meg Miller – Grades 5/6 Student Council
                  Ellen Walsh – Student Assistant Team Grade 5/6
                  Ray Fox – Intramural Advisor – Grades 5/6
                  Doug Bertrand – Intramural Advisor – Grades 5/6
                  Tiffany Jones – Picture Book Advisor
                  Rick Hogan – Civil Rights Team
                  Gail Turner – Ping Pong Club Advisor
                  Jeremy Stein – Rock Climbing Club Advisor
                  The motion was approved 7-0.

    1. Mr. Terison with a second from Mrs. Farber moved the Board approve the employment of James Seheault as Grade 6 Teacher for the 2007-2008 school year.  The motion was approved 7-0.
    2. Mrs. Franklin with a second from Mrs. Hillman-Reed moved the Board approve the Support System assignments (attachment).  The motion was approved 7-0.  
  1.  EXECUTIVE SESSION: 
  1. Mrs. Hillman-Reed with a second from Mrs. Cote moved the Board enter Executive Session pursuant to 1 M.R.S.A 405(6)(A) evaluation of officials/appointees/employees regarding a personnel matter.  The motion was approved 7-0 and the Board entered Executive Session, accompanied by Dan O’Shea, at 8:13 p.m.

 

  1. ADJOURNMENT:  Executive Session ended at 8:45 p.m.  Mrs. Hillman-Reed with a second from Mrs. Farber moved the Board adjourn.  The motion was approved 7-0, and the Board adjourned at 8:46 p.m.

                                                                                    Respectfully submitted,

 

                                                                                    George H. Entwistle 3rd
                                                                                    Secretary

 

Last Updated: 10/10/07