Falmouth School Board Minutes

Falmouth School Board
Regular Meeting
Monday, October 15, 2007

 

  1. CALL TO ORDER:  The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers.  Present were Beppie Cerf, Linda Cote, Karen Farber, Beth Franklin, Scott Lydick, Student Representative Steve Hebson, Superintendent George Entwistle and approximately 25 others. (Hillman-Reed, Terison and Carney – out)
  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. Mrs. Farber with a second from Mrs. Franklin moved the Board approve the minutes of September 17, 2007.  The motion was approved 5-0.
    2. Mrs. Cote with a second from Mrs. Franklin moved the Board approve the minutes of October 1, 2007.  The motion was approved 5-0.

 

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

 

  1. RECOGNITION:  There was none.
  1. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT:
    1. Dr. Entwistle informed the Board that this month he and the Leadership Council members prepared a “consolidated report” for the Board meeting given the scheduled facilities public forum for this evening.  Dr. Entwistle briefly discussed a handout that was distributed summarizing the exit poll slips from the recent Community Dialogue.  He also noted the information that was included in the packets regarding sessions that were offered at the high school student forum on September 27.

 

  1. COMMITTEE REPORTS:
    1. Finance Sub-committee:  Mr. Lydick reported the committee had met prior to this meeting.  A preliminary report from the audit accounting firm had been distributed; no problems were reported.  There was a discussion regarding the budget development process for the coming year, which will basically be the same as past years, just two weeks earlier.  There was also a discussion regarding the need for a technology position, possibly as a contract position.
    1. Facilities Sub-committee:  No report was given.

 

    1. Policy Sub-committee:  No report was given.
    1. Regional Planning Committee:  Mrs. Cerf reported this committee is meeting every Wednesday evening from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at various district locations.  The committee consists of representatives from each town/district (Falmouth, Yarmouth, Cumberland and North Yarmouth).  The group is working together with the goal of developing a Reorganization Plan; the deadline for plan submission is December 1, 2007. 

 

  1. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION:
    1. Current Openings:

                              Receptionist – Superintendent’s Office
                              HS Nordic Skiing Head Coach
                              HS Nordic Assistant Coach

    1.             Denise Rand was hired as Ed. Tech III (Learning Center)

     

  1. UNFINISHED BUSINESS:  There were none.
  1. NEW BUSINESS:
    1. Mrs. Franklin with a second from Mrs. Farber moved the Board approve the Camp Kieve Schedule B assignments:  Carey Hotaling, Mat Holmes, Angela Piveronas, Jamie Seheult, Chris Olsen, Craig Shain, John Carter, Barbara Stiles, Steve Liscovitz, Joyce Hebert and Danielle Gleason.  The motion was approved 5-0.
    2. Mrs. Farber with a second from Mrs. Cote moved the Board approve the support team assignments:

                  Don Esty (Chair), Karen Ramsey and Andrew Njaa for Dede Waite.
                  Cathy Stankard (Chair) for Judith Main
      The motion was approved 5-0.

    1. Mrs. Farber with a second from Mrs. Cote moved the Board approve the Falmouth School Board Workplan 2007-2008.  The motion was approved 5-0.  
  1. PUBLIC FORUM - ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT:

Rob Tillotson, President of Oak Point Associates, started the forum with a quick synopsis of what has happened to this point:  committee meetings, 1st public forum, and meetings with the state.  He showed a slide presentation that included information on enrollment projections for Pre-K through Grade 5 and showed the existing Lunt School and Plummer-Motz School sites.  Mr. Tillotson explained that the State is reviewing the rationale of bringing the 5th grade back to the elementary schools from the perspective of space usage.  Information was presented regarding the existing space in the middle school and how it can be used should the 5th grade be moved.

Kerry Green of Oak Point Associates continued the forum by showing a map of the current site and explained the many problems with the existing site (ledge, grade, traffic congestion and not enough usable space).  She showed a couple of slides with possible renovation solutions to the current site along with pros and cons of these solutions.  A view of the “perfect site” was then shown.  There was discussion regarding the “Superintendent’s Office site” and why that does not work well (wetlands) and also discussion of possible town sites; again, none of which are suitable for a new school.   Ms. Green discussed non-town owned parcels that have been identified.  These parcels are between 28 and 68 acres.

 Questions asked:

  • Will the state pay for land—they will if the price is appropriate, which would be confirmed by two appraisals.
  • Could the middle school be used as a K-5 school and a new middle school be built behind the Superintendent’s office—the state funded project is for a new elementary school; therefore, that is not a viable solution.
  • Why are we considering Pre-K and full-day kindergarten in this project—the state recommends that we include Pre-K and full-day kindergarten and there is much evidence that shows this is very beneficial to students.
  • With respect to consolidation, who would get the current site should a new school be built elsewhere—Falmouth would keep the site (would need to be negotiated in the consolidation discussions).
  • Should we consider looking at land over the line in Cumberland—the needs that have been identified by the state are for a Falmouth elementary school.

Rob Tillotson explained the current direction they are headed (the State agrees) involves looking for land for a new Pre-K to Grade 4 or 5 school.  Ads have been placed and some identified Falmouth landowners have been contacted.  A couple of public members commented separately that they felt the current school site should continue to be considered despite the problems identified in the site analysis.  Mr. Tillotson explained that it would cost more to renovate on the current site than to build and the consideration of having to move the students for a couple of years during renovation has to be considered.  Someone asked if the fields at the high school and middle school could be used for a new location and build new fields behind the Superintendent’s office.  Mr. Tillotson stated with the current use of the fields for academic purposes (gym, etc.), having the fields across the street would not be the most desirable.  Current traffic at the high school and middle schools also is a consideration.  The comment was made by a member of the public that the traffic at Lunt/Plummer-Motz is also an important issue.  An audience member pointed out that any new site will most likely have unforeseen problems like vernal pools, ledge, etc.  Rob Tillotson stated that any new site would be reviewed thoroughly by them to make sure there are no hidden problems/costs.

The public was asked to e-mail Mark Terison, Chair of the Elementary School Building Committee, if anyone had questions at a later time.

  1. EXECUTIVE SESSION: 
  • Mrs. Farber 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 5-0 and the Board entered Executive Session, accompanied by Dan O’Shea, at 9:05 p.m.

 

  1. ADJOURNMENT:  Executive Session ended at 9:12 p.m.  Mrs. Farber with a second from Mr. Lydick moved the Board adjourn.  The motion was approved 5-0, and the Board adjourned at 9:20 p.m.

                                                                                    Respectfully submitted,

 

                                                                                    George H. Entwistle 3rd
                                                                                    Secretary

 

Last Updated: 11/16/07