MINUTES
AUGUSTA BOARD OF EDUCATION
Special Board Meeting
September 2, 2020
6:00 p.m.
VIA Zoom
The following board members were present: |
|
Chair: |
Edward Hastings |
Board Members: |
Christopher Clarke, Jennifer Dumond, Pia Holmes, Staci Fortunato, Kevin Lamoreau, Kati McCormick, Jan Michaud, Amanda Olson |
Also present were: |
|
Superintendent: |
James Anastasio |
Assistant Superintendent |
Katy Grondin |
6:00 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.
Member |
Representing |
Response |
Staci Fortunato |
Ward 1 |
Yea |
Chris Clarke |
Ward 2 |
Yea |
Jan Michaud |
Ward 3 |
Yea |
Kati McCormick |
Ward 4 |
Yea |
Pia Holmes |
At-Large |
Yea |
Jennifer Dumond |
At-Large |
Yea |
Kevin Lamoreau |
At-Large |
Yea |
Amanda Olson |
At-Large |
Yea |
Motion to amend the agenda to add a motion to delay the start date for elementary schools from
September 8 to September 14.
Move to amend the agenda to add a motion to delay the start date for elementary schools from September 8 to September 14. |
Motion: Yeas:
Nays: Vote: |
Kevin Lamoreau Second: Staci Fortunato Dumond, Fortunato, Holmes, Lamoreau, Michaud, Olson Clarke, McCormick Motion passes 6 to 2 |
Member |
Representing |
Response |
Staci Fortunato |
Ward 1 |
Yea |
Chris Clarke |
Ward 2 |
Nay |
Jan Michaud |
Ward 3 |
Yea |
Kati McCormick |
Ward 4 |
Nay |
Pia Holmes |
At-Large |
Yea |
Jennifer Dumond |
At-Large |
Yea |
Kevin Lamoreau |
At-Large |
Yea |
Amanda Olson |
At-Large |
Yea |
Motion to amend the agenda to have a board discussion to send a letter of support for the Athletic Department to the Department of Education and Governor of the State of Maine supporting fall athletics.
Move to amend the agenda to have a board discussion to send a letter of support for the Athletic Department to the Department of Education and Governor of the State of Maine supporting fall athletics. |
Motion: Yeas:
Nays: Vote: |
Christopher Clarke Second: Kevin Lamoreau
Motion passes 8 to 0. |
Member |
Representing |
Response |
Staci Fortunato |
Ward 1 |
Yea |
Chris Clarke |
Ward 2 |
Yea |
Jan Michaud |
Ward 3 |
Yea |
Kati McCormick |
Ward 4 |
Yea |
Pia Holmes |
At-Large |
Yea |
Jennifer Dumond |
At-Large |
Yea |
Kevin Lamoreau |
At-Large |
Yea |
Amanda Olson |
At-Large |
Yea |
3. 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. Candidates to be determined. Interviews will be taking place prior to meeting.
1. Levi Barnes, Special Education Teacher, Farrington Elementary School
2. Cynthia Streznewski, Technology Mentor K-6, District Wide
Motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.
Move to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. |
Motion: Yeas: Nays: Vote: |
Staci Fortunato Second: Jan Michaud
Motion passed 8 to 0 |
Member |
Representing |
Response |
Staci Fortunato |
Ward 1 |
Yea |
Chris Clarke |
Ward 2 |
Yea |
Jan Michaud |
Ward 3 |
Yea |
Kati McCormick |
Ward 4 |
Yea |
Pia Holmes |
At-Large |
Yea |
Jennifer Dumond |
At-Large |
Yea |
Kevin Lamoreau |
At-Large |
Yea |
Amanda Olson |
At-Large |
Yea |
4. Update on opening of Augusta schools:
Mr. Anastasio gave an update on bussing. He has been working with Keith Luke from the City who has been helping to write a grant for free child care at the Buker Center for students 4–14 who are children of resident essential workers, economically disadvantaged, and others as space is available. ASD students will get free breakfast and lunch through December 31. He said the school department has made a huge commitment to buy technology with COVID relief funds. It includes devices for students, infrastructure to support those devices and devices to help teachers do remote teaching. There is a concern whether we will be able to get that technology due to high demand. There are enough computers for teachers and students grades 2 to 12 and they are aggressively trying to purchase computers for Ed. Techs. and replace older devices which cannot be updated.
Mr. Anastasio said the change in the agenda to ask for a delay for elementary schools did not come from him. Recently, the elementary principals were asked if they were ready to open or needed a delay. They said no to a delay, however, some teachers were concerned.
Mr. Anastasio said the Maine Principals Assoc. is recommending that the beginning of sports be delayed again until Sept. 14. Athletic Director, Jon Millett briefly commented on the MPA release.
Administrators gave an update on where they are regarding the opening of school.
5. New Business:
A. Motion to move the elementary school start date from September 8 to September 14.
Move to start the elementary start date from September 8 to September 14. |
Motion: Yeas: Nays: Vote: |
Kevin Lamoreau Second: Staci Fortunato
No vote taken |
Motion to amend the current motion to delay the start of elementary school, with no impact to
Pre-K or K, to September 10.
Move to amend the current motion to delay the start of elementary school, with no impact to Pre-K or K, to September 10. |
Motion: Yeas: Nays: Vote: |
Amanda Olson Second: Staci Fortunato
Motion passes 8 to 0 |
Member |
Representing |
Response |
Staci Fortunato |
Ward 1 |
Yea |
Chris Clarke |
Ward 2 |
Yea |
Jan Michaud |
Ward 3 |
Yea |
Kati McCormick |
Ward 4 |
Yea |
Pia Holmes |
At-Large |
Yea |
Jennifer Dumond |
At-Large |
Yea |
Kevin Lamoreau |
At-Large |
Yea |
Amanda Olson |
At-Large |
Yea |
Motion to delay the start of elementary school, with no further impact to Pre-K or K, to
September 10.
Move to delay the start of elementary school, with no further impact to Pre-K or K, to September 10. |
Motion: Yeas: Nays: Vote: |
Amanda Olson Second: Staci Fortunato
Motion passes 8 to 0 |
Member |
Representing |
Response |
Staci Fortunato |
Ward 1 |
Yea |
Chris Clarke |
Ward 2 |
Yea |
Jan Michaud |
Ward 3 |
Yea |
Kati McCormick |
Ward 4 |
Yea |
Pia Holmes |
At-Large |
Yea |
Jennifer Dumond |
At-Large |
Yea |
Kevin Lamoreau |
At-Large |
Yea |
Amanda Olson |
At-Large |
Yea |
B. Motion to table the discussion to send a letter of support for the Athletic Department to the
Department of Education and Governor of the State of Maine supporting fall athletics for a
potential special meeting.
Move to table the discussion to send a letter of support for the Athletic Department to the Department of Education and Governor of the State of Maine supporting fall athletics for a potential special meeting. |
Motion: Yeas: Nays: Vote: |
Christopher Clarke Second: Jan Michaud
Motion passes 8 to 0 |
Member |
Representing |
Response |
Staci Fortunato |
Ward 1 |
Yea |
Chris Clarke |
Ward 2 |
Yea |
Jan Michaud |
Ward 3 |
Yea |
Kati McCormick |
Ward 4 |
Yea |
Pia Holmes |
At-Large |
Yea |
Jennifer Dumond |
At-Large |
Yea |
Kevin Lamoreau |
At-Large |
Yea |
Amanda Olson |
At-Large |
Yea |
C. Motion to amend the agenda to include a motion to change the start of the high school
to September 10.
Move to amend the agenda to include a motion to change the start of the high school to September 10. |
Motion: Yeas: Nays: Vote: |
Christopher Clarke Second: Kevin Lamoreau Clarke, Fortunato, Lamoreau, Michaud, Dumond, Holmes, McCormick, Olson, Hastings Motion fails 5 to 4 |
Member |
Representing |
Response |
Staci Fortunato |
Ward 1 |
Yea |
Chris Clarke |
Ward 2 |
Yea |
Jan Michaud |
Ward 3 |
Yea |
Kati McCormick |
Ward 4 |
Nay |
Pia Holmes |
At-Large |
Nay |
Jennifer Dumond |
At-Large |
Nay |
Kevin Lamoreau |
At-Large |
Yea |
Amanda Olson |
At-Large |
Nay |
Edward Hastings |
Chair |
Nay |
6. Adjourn:
A. Motion to Adjourn.
Move to Adjourn.
|
Motion: Yeas: Nays: Vote: Time: |
Staci Fortunato Second: Jennifer Dumond
Motion passed 8 to 0 9 p.m. |
Member |
Representing |
Response |
Staci Fortunato |
Ward 1 |
Yea |
Chris Clarke |
Ward 2 |
Yea |
Jan Michaud |
Ward 3 |
Yea |
Kati McCormick |
Ward 4 |
Yea |
Pia Holmes |
At-Large |
Yea |
Jennifer Dumond |
At-Large |
Yea |
Kevin Lamoreau |
At-Large |
Yea |