School Board Minutes

Falmouth School Board Minutes

Falmouth School Board
Regular Meeting
Monday, November 28, 2005
7:00 p.m.

1. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. in the ATM Room at Falmouth High School. Present were Chairman Beppie Cerf, Karen Farber, Beth Franklin, Scott Lydick, Kathy Hillman-Reed, Mark Terison, Student Representative Rachel Bennett, Superintendent George Entwistle and approximately 10 others (Murry and Cote out).

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

3. Adjustments to Agenda: Item 13C, Proposed PATHS Budget for 2006-2007, was added to the agenda.

4. Approval of Minutes:
a. Mr. Terison with a second from Mrs. Farber moved the Board approve the minutes of October 17, 2005. The motion was approved 6-0.
b. Mrs. Hillman-Reed with a second from Mrs. Farber moved the Board approve the minutes of November 7, 2005. The motion passed 6-0.

5. Communications: There were none.

6. Comments from the Public: There were none.

7. Recognition: Recognition of several staff members will be integrated within this meeting.

8. Superintendent’s Report: Superintendent Entwistle reported he had visited several classrooms of second year teachers. The district participated in a scheduled SAU Review on October 20th whereby DOE staff and educators from other districts focused on the development of our Local Assessment System. The Superintendent added that the meetings on implementing the policies on student drug, alcohol and tobacco use went smoothly.

9. Leadership Council Reports:
a. Lunt School: Principal Flaherty reported there was better than a 99% participation rate for the recent parent conferences. The newly implemented “Golden Spoon” award seems to be successful. Class meetings are going well. Mr. Flaherty requested that a School Board representative join the Kindergarten Exploratory Committee beginning in January to study all-day kindergarten. An alternative to teacher gift giving during the holiday is being explored.

b. Plummer-Motz School: Principal Boffa congratulated three staff members who achieved National Board Teacher Certification, Janet Anderson, Kathy Earle, and Jennifer Merrifield. Work continues on the progress report and she thanked the PTO and FEF for the approval of several grants.

c. Falmouth Middle School: Principal Rodman thanked the family of Deborah Wood, a former employee who passed away, for the generous donation of a baby grand piano. A plaque has been affixed to the piano and one will be presented to the Wood family. The DOE released a comparability analysis of students who participated in the online MEA versus those who took the standard paper and pencil version which indicates that online

performance is consistent with pencil use. Jade Russell-Johnson, grade 5, who won this year’s local Peace Poster Contest has gone on to win the regional contest as well.

d. Falmouth High School: Principal Hutton congratulated Student Rep. Chris Murry and members of the Mock Trial Team for reaching the quarterfinals. She also congratulated Student Rep. Rachel Bennett and the Girls Soccer Team for winning the State Championship. Mrs. Hutton then commended Jon Radtke for achieving National Board Certification. She will be attending a luncheon honoring Nationally Board certified teachers soon. Three students from Falmouth, Katherine Hambley, Kate Coster, and Shannon Goggin, were among the top 50 performers on the MEAs in the State last year.

e. Assistant Superintendent: In Mrs. Powers’ absence, Superintendent Entwistle explained that a committee will be established to study advanced course offerings at the high school. Parent representatives and a school board member will be asked to join in the discussions.

f. Director of Student Planning & Learning Options: Ms. Palfrey reported she has begun to schedule meetings with staff and students to discuss Technology Plan Development. She then provided an overview of the 2005-2006 District Report Card on the School’s website which focuses on the five major goals developed from the Community Dialogue last year.

g. Business Manager: Mr. O’Shea explained that the State is beginning to work on calculating expected revenue projections for local districts for the coming fiscal year. Estimated revenue projections for FY07 are being recalculated based on updated figures and EPS models. Estimated figures will not be available until January, but he was optimistic they would be favorable for Falmouth. Packets for the FY07 budget will go to leadership council and department heads this week. The Agreement with the Bus Drivers, Custodians, Maintenance Workers Association expires in August and negotiations will begin soon. Mrs. Cerf and Mrs. Farber have agreed to represent the Board. Mrs. Dolley is conducting a survey of the lunch program and a breakfast program is being “piloted” at the Middle School.

h. Director of Special Services: Ms. Crowell shared a letter from a student who had been involved in the Youth Alternative Girls’ Program. A board member asked how the number of special needs students in Falmouth compares to other schools. Ms. Crowell felt Falmouth’s numbers were moderately low.

i. Athletic Director: In Mr. Hurley’s absence, Mrs. Hutton provided an update on Falmouth athletics. The cross-country team finished second in the State. Adam Packard finished second in the State in the individual golf competition. The girls’ soccer team won the State Championship.

10. Committee Reports
a. Finance Subcommittee: Mrs. Hillman-Reed reported the committee received an update on the High School construction issue and touched on the budget development process. The next meeting will be held on December 12, 2005 at 6:00 p.m..

1. PATHS FY 2006-2007 Part II Budget: Mrs. Farber explained that the budget is based on average enrollment for last two years which for Falmouth would be 23 students or 4.2%. Part II which covers the cost of new and replacement equipment and Falmouth’s share would total $6,045.94 or 4.2%.
b. Facilities Subcommittee: Mr. Terison met with NESDC on November 7 and they have agreed to be a consultant to our subcommittee on the long term facilities plan. There will be another meeting with NESDC on December 12th.
c. Policy Subcommittee: Ms. Franklin reported that the committee is working on the Code of Conduct. Changes have been forwarded to Ann Chapman at Drummond Woodsum .

11. Items for Information
a. Article titled “Full-Day Kindergarten Produces More Learning Gains, Study Says”.
b. Article regarding communicating the budget to the public.

12. Unfinished Business: There was none.

13. New Business:
a. Approval of Richard (Bob) Veit as Gr. 4 teacher for remainder of 05-06 school year: Ms. Franklin with a second from Mr. Terison moved the Board approve Mr. Veit as a grade 4 teacher for the remainder of the 05-06 school year. The motion passed 6-0.

b. Schedule B Appointments
1. K-12 Music Coordinator Jerry Barry
2. Co-Facilitator-Natural Helpers Karen Franciose
3. M.S. Intramural Coach, Gr. 5 David Jellis
4. M.S. Intramural Coach, Gr. 6 Pierre Paradis
5. Support Team Chair (K. Bacon) Kevin Grover
6. Support Team Member (K. Bacon) Joy Halligan
7. Support Team Member (K. Bacon) Mora Katz
8. Support Team Chair (B. Bianchi) Lesley Fitzgerald
9. Support Team Chair (M. Brown) Barbara Lawler
10. Support Team Chair (R. Hartnett) Amy Wheeler
11. Support Team Member (R. Hartnett) Lillian Wing
12. Support Team Member (R. Hartnett) Stephanie Knight
13. Support Team Chair (D. Jordan) Christopher Herrick
14. Support Team chair (A. Rog) Kim Blenk
15. Support Team Chair (C. Shain) George Conant
16. Support Team Chair (S. Murphy) Annette Solebello
17. Support Team Chair (C. Langston) Suzanne Tierney
Mr. Lydick with a second from Mrs. Hillman-Reed moved the Board approve the Schedule B appointments as listed. The motion was approved 6-0.

c. PATHS Part II Budget: Mrs. Hillman-Reed made a motion that the Board approve the expenditure of Falmouth’s share of the Part II FY07 budget for new and replacement equipment for PATHS. With a second from Mrs. Farber, the motion passed 6-0.

14. Executive Session
a. Mrs. Hillman-Reed with a second from Mrs. Farber moved the Board go into Executive Session as per 1 M.R.S.A. § 405 (6) (A) for the purpose of discussing the annual evaluation of the superintendent. The motion was approved 6-0 and the Board went into Executive Session at 8:12 p.m.

At 9:35 p.m. the School Board came out of Executive Session. Mrs. Hillman-Reed with a second from Mr. Terison moved the Board approve the establishment of a 403B plan for the Superintendent retroactive to July 1, 2005. The motion passed 6-0.

15. Adjournment: A motion was duly made, seconded, and approved for the Board to adjourn and the meeting was adjourned at 9:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

George H. Entwistle 3rd
Secretary

Last Updated: 1/7/06

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