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7:00 p.m. 

1.  Opening:

2.  Call to Order:

     Pursuant to 1 MRSA§ 403-A, we will now confirm that each member of the Augusta School Board can

     both hear and be heard.  We will do this by calling the role, members present are asked to say yea.  I

     ask all other members to listen and report any audio difficulties when the roll call is complete.

3.  Pledge of Allegiance:

4.  Presentations:  

          A.  RKO Audit Report Presentation

                     Attachment 1

                Augusta School Department Financial Statements

                     Attachment 2

                Management Letter

                     Attachment 3

                Augusta Statement of Assurance

                     Attachment 4

                Augusta Statement of Assurance Letter

                     Attachment 5

5.  Approval of Minutes:

          A.  Motion to approve the minutes of the Augusta Board of Education Business Meeting of

                December 9, 2020.

         http://www.augustaschools.org/board_of_education/BoardMinutes201209.php

6.  Communications:

7.  Resignations and Retirements:

          A.  Resignations

                      Karen Laliberte, Grade 4 teacher, Gilbert Elementary School

                      Sarah Fenwick, LCPC, Farrington Elementary School

8.  Recognitions:

9.  Student Council Report:  Mandy Cooper

High school winter sports have started.  Middle school winter sports will start after January 19.  Ms. Cooper said there are many regulations and guidelines in place to ensure safety.  Guidelines for auditions for Chizzle Wizzle are posted on the Chizzle Wizzle Facebook page.  The Key Club made holiday cards for the Maine Veterans Home; JMG made donations to the Home for Little Wanders; and the Student Council provided breakfast for staff.  The Children’s Center sent Cony a huge thank you for their incredible generosity in supporting the holiday giving tree.  Quarter 3 begins on January 25.  There will be no finals this year due to limited learning time.

10.  Informational Items:

            A.  Cony Winter Coaching Nominations

                       Attachment 5

            B.  Professional Development

                       1.  Anita Vose, Math4ME Training, 12/9/20

                       2.  Doreen Franklin, Math4ME Training, 12/9/20

                       3.  Mark Dennett, Math4ME Training, 12/9/20

                       4.  Shannon Tyler, Math4ME Training, 12/9/20

                       5.  Maureen Heikkula, Making Best Use of Google Classroom, 12/11/20

                       6.  Kristine Poulin, Making Best Use of Google Classroom, 12/11/20

                       7.  Megan Porter, Elevate Take Teaching to New Heights, 12/29/20

                       8.  Karen Kidder, Elevate Take Teaching to New Heights, 12/29/20

                       9.  Megan Porter, Distance Learning in Kindergarten: Successful, Practical Strategies,

                            1/7/21

                      10.  Karen Kidder, Distance Learning in Kindergarten: Successful, Practical Strategies,

                            1/7/21

                      11.  Kim Silsby, MPA “Not So Fall” Conference, 1/12, 1/19, and 1/26/21

11.  Committee Reports:

            A.  Finance Committee Report:  Jennifer Dumond

                       1.  Finance Committee Meeting Minutes, December 7, 2020

       http://www.augustaschools.org/board_of_education/FinanceCommMinutes201207.php

                       2.  Finance Committee Meeting, January 11, 2021 - Minutes on next board agenda

                       3.  Business Manager’s Report

                                 Attachment 6

            B.  Curriculum and Education Committee Report:  Pia Holmes

                       1.  Curriculum and Education Committee Minutes – December 9, 2020

https://cms2.revize.com/revize/augustaschools/board_of_education/CurrandEdCommMinutes201209.php

            C.  Personnel Committee Report:  Kevin Lamoreau

                       1.  Personnel Committee Meeting Minutes, December 7, 2020

 http://www.augustaschools.org/board_of_education/PersonnelCommMinutes201207.php

                       2.  Personnel Committee Meeting, January 11, 2021 – Minutes on next board agenda

            D.  Policy Committee Report:  Staci Fortunato

                       1.  Policy Committee Meeting Minutes, December 7, 2020

http://www.augustaschools.org/board_of_education/PolicyCommMinutes201207.php

                       2.  Policy Committee Meeting, January 11, 2021 – Minutes on next board agenda

12.  Consent Items:  (all matters listed under this item will be considered routine and will be enacted by

       one motion.  A Board Member may ask to have an item(s) removed and considered individually.)

               A.  Linda Pare, Kindergarten Teacher, Lincoln Elementary School

       Motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.

13.  Board Member Comment and/or Discussion on Non-Agenda Items:

14.  Public Comment on Non-Personnel Agenda Items:

15.  Unfinished Business:

            A.  Motion to adopt policy GBEBB:  Staff Conduct with Students.

                       Attachment 7

             B.  Motion to adopt policy BDDB:  Agenda Format.

                       Attachment 8

16.  New Business:

                A.  Motion to approve the first reading of policy ADC:  Tobacco-Free Schools: Use and

                      Possession of Tobacco and Electronic Smoking Devices.

                           Attachment 9

             B.  Motion to approve the ESports Student Organization at Cony High School.

                       Attachment 10

             C.  Motion to approve the Quiz Bowl Team Organization at Cony High School.

                       Attachment 11

             D.  Motion to approve a new African-American History course at Cony High School.

                       Attachment 12

17.  Assistant Superintendent’s Report:

Ms. Grondin said the reason we are doing NWEA assessments this year is to get data for the district to see how our students are doing against national norms. She said the assessment is aligned to the Common Core and provides feedback as to how students are attaining the common core standards with our instruction.  Data from the assessments is also used by the Response to Intervention teams to see where student’s strengths are and areas of focus for instruction.  It will be administered again for grades 2 through 6 at the beginning of February to monitor student growth.  The State of Maine is in negotiations with a vendor around state assessments and the hope is it will be NWEA.  Grades 7, 8 and 9 will take the assessment the week of January 25 for their first benchmark and again in March. Grades 10 and 11 will have an opportunity to take the assessment before the State assessments in May.

Ms. Grondin said they are looking at a possible new math program and will bring information to the Curriculum Committee in February.

18.  Superintendent’s Report:

Mr. Anastasio said we are in the middle of the budget process.  Because of our timeline with City Council, we have to put together a budget before we get revenue information from the State.

He discussed concerns about possible protests or demonstrations at the state capital and what is planned to ensure the safety of students.

Students will return to school on January 19 with a hybrid model.  Work on ventilation systems is complete and buildings are as safe as possible in relation to the virus, flu or anything that is airborne.

Mr. Anastasio said he has not received any information in regards to vaccines for educators.

Mr. Anastasio said questions have come up in regards to doing a remote week after February vacation.  He said no decision has been made and plans to watch what happens as we move forward.

He said it is amazing what teachers have been able to learn and do and create in a short period of time and they should be commended.

19.  Reports from Other School Officials:

Ms. Silsby spoke about student attendance and progress reports. She said they have done many interventions to support students who are at risk.

Sarah Landry spoke about truancy and engagement vs. attendance at the elementary level.  She said they are spending a lot of time working with parents to get them engaged in their student’s learning.

20.  Audience Recognition for Non-Agenda Items:

21.  Adjourn:

            A.  Motion to Adjourn: