REVISED

MINUTES

AUGUSTA SCHOOL BOARD

6:30 P.M. - EXECUTIVE SESSION

[Re: Personnel Matters –

Pursuant to Statutory Citation 1 M.R.S.A. § 405(6)(A)]

7:00 P.M. - BUSINESS MEETING

WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2008

CAPITAL AREA TECHNICAL CENTER CAFETERIA

The following Board Members were present:

Acting Chair:	Sue Dowling
Board Members:	Jane Dennison, Willie Emerson, Kim Silsby, Nate Rende, Darek Grant, and Dick Barnes

Board Members absent:

Chair:	Bill Burney
Board Member:	Susan Campbell
Student Representative:	Samuel Marr

Also present were:

Superintendent:	Cornelia Brown
Business Manager:	James Jurdak
Director of Curriculum & Education:	Barbara Jordan

6:30 P.M. – EXECUTIVE SESSION:

[Re: Personnel Matters - Pursuant to Statutory Citation 1 M.R.S.A. § 405(6)(A)]

A. Motion to approve entering into Executive Session pursuant to Statutory Citation

1 M.R.S.A. § 405(6)(A).

Move to approve entering into Executive Session pursuant to Statutory Citation 1 M.R.S.A. § 405(6)(A).

Motion: Yeas: Nays: Vote:

Dick Barnes Second: Darek Grant 7; Members Dennison, Emerson, Rende, Grant, Barnes, Silsby, and Dowling 0 Motion Passed Unanimously 7 to 0.

B. Motion to approve departing from Executive Session pursuant to Statutory Citation

1 M.R.S.A. § 405(6)(A).

Move to approve departing from Executive Session pursuant to Statutory Citation 1 M.R.S.A. § 405(6)(A).

Motion: Yeas: Nays: Vote:

Dick Barnes Second: Darek Grant 7; Members Dennison, Emerson, Rende, Grant, Barnes, Silsby, and Dowling 0 Motion Passed Unanimously 7 to 0.

7:00 P.M. - BUSINESS MEETING:

1) Opening:

A. Call to Order: Chair Dowling called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

Dr. Brown reminded everyone that the School Budget Referendum and Primary Day both fall on Tuesday, June 10^th. Dr. Brown also stated that it will only be the School Budget, not the City Budget, for which voters will be voting.

B. Pledge of Allegiance

C. Presentations:

1. School-Based Health Center Presentation by Nurse Hope Zibura and Dan Myers,

Director of FMI and Medical Director for the School-Based Health Center.

At the conclusion of the presentation, Chair Dowling stated that, “The whole Healthcare Program is an awesome program. We have a lot of needy kids, and this has been a tremendous help to them. We appreciate all of your help.”

2) Approval of Minutes:

A. Motion to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of April 9, 2008.

Move to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of April 9, 2008 as submitted.

Motion: Yeas: Nays: Vote:

Kim Silsby Second: Dick Barnes 7; Members Dennison, Emerson, Rende, Grant, Barnes, Silsby, and Dowling 0 Motion Passed Unanimously 7 to 0.

3) Communications:

A. Letters:

1. April 11, 2008 Letter from Commissioner of Education Susan A. Gendron
relative to the revised Alternative Plan submitted by the Augusta School Department on March 28, 2008 for review for compliance with the School Reorganization Law by the Maine Department of Education.

2. April 7, 2008 Letter to Cony High School Principal James Anastasio
from Ms. Pamela Gray-Bennett from the New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEAS&C) relative to the Cony High School Accreditation Visit Evaluation Report.

3. May 6, 2008 Letter to Superintendent Brown from Reading First Co-Director Patrick O’Shea relative to Gilbert Elementary School’s award of a 4^th Year Extension of the Reading First Grant.

B. Student Council Report: As Student Representative Marr was absent, no Student Council Report was given to the Board.

4) Resignations and Retirements:

A. Resignations:

1. Joel C. Doore - Letter of Resignation dated April 9, 2008 informing the Augusta School Department that he would be resigning from his position as a Mathematics Teacher at Cony High School effective with the close of the 2007-2008 school year.

2. Courtney Kreider – Letter of Resignation dated May 7, 2008 informing the Augusta School Department that she would be resigning from her position as a Grade 7 Language Arts Teacher at Hodgkins Middle School effective with the close of the 2007-2008 school year.

2. Retirements: None.

5) Recognitions:

1. Charles Izzi, Jr. - On Monday night, May 5^th, at the Maine Culinary Association's

Annual Awards Banquet in Augusta, Charles Izzi, Jr. was presented with the coveted American Culinary Federation Maine Chapter's Chef of the Year award. It was his second such achievement, the first being in 1990.

6) Informational Items:

A. Out-of-State Professional Development Travel:

1. Phil Michaud, Cony H.S. Business Ed Teacher and 5 of His Students – Trip to Bangor, ME – May 15, 2008 – Business Education Association of Maine (B.E.A.M.) State Competition. These 5 students won regional contests and will now compete at the State Competition in Accounting and Personal Finance.

B. Athletic and Extra-Curricular Nominations:

1. Spring Coaching Nominations for 2007-2008 school year:

· Robbie Morin – Hodgkins 8^th Grade Baseball Coach

· Jeremie Greenleaf – Hodgkins 7^th Grade Baseball Co-Coach

· Robbie Morin - Hodgkins 7^th Grade Baseball Co-Coach

· Courtney Kreider - Hodgkins 7^th Grade Softball Coach

· Helen (Lynn) Allerding – Hodgkins 7^th Grade Softball Coach

7) Committee Reports:

A. Finance: [There was no Finance Meeting in May.]

1. Business Manager’s Report. Business Manager James Jurdak gave his report to the Board.

B. Curriculum & Education: [Curriculum & Education Committee Met on 5/7/08.]

1. Curriculum Coordinator’s Report.

Curriculum & Education Chair Dick Barnes gave the Curriculum & Education Report to the Board.

Curriculum Coordinator Dr. Jordan gave her report to the Board and stated that she was thrilled to announce that the Augusta School Department was awarded the 21^st Century Grant and that the total amount of money is $1.5 million over a 5-year period. Dr. Jordan thanked Kathi Wall and Bob Dodge who, along with herself, wrote/applied for the Grant. All in attendance applauded this exciting accomplishment.

C. Personnel & Negotiations: [The Personnel & Negotiations Committee met on 5/7/08.]

1. Personnel & Negotiations Committee Chairman’s Report.

Personnel & Negotiations Committee Chair Sue Dowling gave the Personnel & Negotiation Committee Report to the Board.

8) 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. Nominations for Professional Positions:

1. Motion to approve the nomination of Jennifer Veuillux as a Grade 3/4 Teacher at
Gilbert Elementary School.

2. Motion to approve the nomination of Storm Kelsoe as a Speech/Language Pathologist in the Augusta School Department.

Move to approve the above two Nominations for Professional Positions: 1) Jennifer Veuillux as a Grade 3/4Teacher at Gilbert Elementary School; and 2) Storm Kelsoe as a Speech/Language Pathologist in the Augusta School Dept.

Motion: Yeas: Nays: Vote:

Dick Barnes Second: Kim Silsby 7; Members Dennison, Emerson, Rende, Grant, Barnes, Silsby, and Dowling 0 Motion Passed Unanimously 7 to 0.

9) Public Comment on Non-Personnel Agenda Items:

Mr. Les Wilkinson, a member of the public who attended the meeting, addressed the Board. Mr. Wilkinson mentioned that his wife is a Teacher in the System. He stated that there is a minority of people in Augusta who believe that the Augusta School Department is all about the sports. Mr. Wilkinson further stated that he did not believe this at all. He believes that the Augusta School Department is all about a long-standing pursuit of and commitment to excellence. He also stated that it was the Teachers who drive excellence.

10) Unfinished Business:

A. Policy Adoptions/Revisions/Deletions: None.

B. Budget Discussion.

11) New Business:

A. Student Activity Travel Requests (Out-of-State or Overnight):

1. Motion to approve – Spanish Club Trip to Mexico – April 15-22, 2009 -
EF Educational Tours -Mexico’s Yucatan – 15+ Students and 2 Chaperones.

Move to approve the Spanish Club’s Trip to Mexico on April 15-22, 2009.

Motion: Yeas: Nays: Vote:

Nate Rende Second: Darek Grant 7; Members Dennison, Emerson, Rende, Grant, Barnes, Silsby, and Dowling 0 Motion Passed Unanimously 7 to 0.

B. Policy Adoptions/Revisions/Deletions. None.

C. Nominations for Administrative Positions:

1. Motion to approve the nomination of Paul Vachon as the Athletic Director at Cony High School.

Move to approve the nomination of Paul Vachon as the Athletic Director at Cony High School.

Motion: Yeas: Nays: Vote:

Dick Barnes Second: Kim Silsby 7; Members Dennison, Emerson, Rende, Grant, Barnes, Silsby, and Dowling 0 Motion Passed Unanimously 7 to 0.

D. Motion to approve a Gift from Hannaford Bros. and General Mills to the Farrington Elementary School in the amount of $1,000.00 from the Hannaford Helps Schools Program.

Move to approve a Gift from Hannaford Bros. and General Mills to the Farrington Elementary School in the amount of $1,000.00 from the Hannaford Helps Schools Program.

Motion: Yeas: Nays: Vote:

Dick Barnes Second: Kim Silsby 7; Members Dennison, Emerson, Rende, Grant, Barnes, Silsby, and Dowling 0 Motion Passed Unanimously 7 to 0.

E. Motion to approve the transfer of $10,000 from the Contingency Line and $30,000 from the Building Repair and Maintenance Line (for a total of $40,000) to be transferred to CATC’s Building Project Line for the CATC Lobby Renovations:

Move to approve the transfer of $10,000 from the Contingency Line and $30,000 from the Building Repair and Maintenance Line (for a total of $40,000) to be transferred to CATC’s Building Project Line for the CATC Lobby Renovations.

Motion: Yeas: Nays: Vote:

Dick Barnes Second: Kim Silsby 7; Members Dennison, Emerson, Rende, Grant, Barnes, Silsby, and Dowling 0 Motion Passed Unanimously 7 to 0.

F. Motion to Table the below motion to approve the appointment of two School Board Members to the Joint Audit Committee.

Move to table the below motion to approve the appointment of two School Board Members to the Joint Audit Committee.

Motion: Yeas: Nays: Vote:

Kim Silsby Second: Dick Barnes 7; Members Dennison, Emerson, Rende, Grant, Barnes, Silsby, and Dowling 0 Motion Passed Unanimously 7 to 0.

G. Motion to approve the appointment of two School Board Members to the Joint Audit Committee.

TABLED PURSUANT TO ABOVE MOTION.

Move to approve the appointment of two School Board Members to the Joint Audit Committee.

Motion: Yeas: Nays: Vote:

______________ Second: ______________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ Motion (Passed/Failed) _____ to _____

12. Superintendent’s Report:

Dr. Brown advised the Board of which Board Members would be representing the Augusta School Department at the following events:

Ø Cony Graduation – 4:00 p.m., Sunday, June 8^th: Members Rende and Grant and Chairman of the Board Bill Burney will participate at this event to be held at the Augusta Civic Center.

Ø Adult Ed Graduation – 7:00 p.m. Friday, June 6^th: Members Dennison and Emerson will participate at this event to be held in the Cony Auditorium.

Ø Hodgkins Graduation – 6:00 p.m., Monday, June 16^th: Member Campbell will participate at this event to be held in the Cony Auditorium.

Ø Individual School Events (such as the 6^th Grade Dinner at Gilbert Elementary School) – Dr. Brown asked Members to please contact the individual schools for dates, times, and locations for their various events should they wish to participate in them.

Dr. Brown reminded everyone again that the School Budget Referendum will be held on Tuesday, June 10th. Dr. Brown also asked everyone to get involved and exercise their right to vote.

13. Reports from Other School Officials: None.

14. Audience Recognition for Non-Agenda Items: None.

15. Adjourn:

A. Motion to Adjourn:

Move to Adjourn.

Motion: Yeas: Nays: Vote: Time:

Kim Silsby Second: Dick Barnes 7; Members Dennison, Emerson, Rende, Grant, Barnes, Silsby, and Dowling 0 Motion Passed Unanimously 7 to 0. 8:05 p.m.

Next Business Meeting of the Augusta Board of Education

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

7:00 p.m. – Board Business Meeting

CATC Cafeteria