MINUTES

 

AUGUSTA SCHOOL BOARD

 

6:15 P.M. - EXECUTIVE SESSION

[Re:  Personnel Negotiations –

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

 

7:00 P.M. - BUSINESS MEETING

 

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2008

 

CAPITAL AREA TECHNICAL CENTER CAFETERIA

 

 

 

 

 

The following Board Members were present:

 

Chair:

Bill Burney

Board Members:

Sue Dowling, Jane Dennison, Willie Emerson,

Nate Rende, Darek Grant, and Dick Barnes

 

Board Members absent:

 

Board Members:

Susan Campbell, Kim Silsby

 

Also present were:

 

Superintendent:

Cornelia Brown

Business Manager:

James Jurdak

Director of Curriculum & Education:

Barbara Jordan

Student Representative:

Samuel Marr

 

6:15 P.M. – EXECUTIVE SESSION

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

 

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

1 M.R.S.A. § 405(6)(D).

 

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

Motion:

Yeas:

 

Nays:

Vote:

Time:

Sue Dowling  Second:  Dick Barnes

5; Chair Burney, Members Dowling,
    Emerson, Grant, and Barnes

0

Motion (Passed/Failed) 5 to 0.

6:15 p.m.

 

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

1 M.R.S.A. § 405(6)(D).

 

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

Motion:

Yeas:

 

Nays:

Vote:

Time:

Sue Dowling  Second:  Darek Grant

5; Chair Burney, Members Dowling,
    Emerson, Grant, and Barnes

0

Motion (Passed/Failed) 5 to 0.

7:00 p.m.

           

 

7:00 P.M. - BUSINESS MEETING:

 

1)      Opening:

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

                                                                                                                                                                            

B.     Pledge of Allegiance

 

C.     Presentations:

 

1.     Safe Routes to School Grant Presentation – Mr. Gerard Roy, City of Augusta Economic Development Office (who wrote the Safe Routes to School Grant) and Mr. Gerry Dostie, Engineering Technician for the City of Augusta, gave their presentation to the Board, along with the Augusta School Department’s Director of Buildings and Grounds, Mr. John Pucciarelli.  The goal of this initiative is to get kids walking and biking to school safely with the implementation of improved sidewalks and crosswalks, lights, bike paths, etc.

 

2.     Social Studies Curriculum Presentation – Mr. Jon Millett, a 7th Grade Social Studies Teacher at Hodgkins Middle School, gave his presentation to the Board relative to the proposed new Social Studies curriculum.

 

2)      Approval of Minutes:

A.                     Motion to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of March 12, 2008. 

 

Move to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of March 12, 2008 as submitted.

Motion:

Yeas:

 

Nays:

Vote:

Sue Dowling  Second:  Dick Barnes

6; Members Dowling, Dennison, Emerson,

    Rende, Grant, and Barnes

0

Motion (Passed/Failed) 6 to 0.

 

      B.  Motion to approve the Minutes of the Special Meeting of March 26, 2008.

 

Move to approve the Minutes of the Special  Meeting of March 26, 2008 as submitted.

Motion:

Yeas:

 

Nays:

Vote:

Sue Dowling  Second:  Dick Barnes

6; Members Dowling, Dennison, Emerson,

    Rende, Grant, and Barnes

0

Motion (Passed/Failed) 6 to 0.

 

3)      Communications:

A.     Letters:

 

1.   March 14, 2008 Letter to Cony High School Principal James Anastasio from Stephen E. Mitchell, Principal, Tourtellotte Memorial High School, North Grosvenordale, CT, regarding the Cony High School Accreditation Evaluation Report.

 

Cony High School Principal James Anastasio reported to the Board relative to the report from the Visiting Committee, which was received in March. He also reported to the Board that the Visiting Committee had a very positive visit and that he will share those results with the Board in the near future.

 

B.   Student Council Report – Student Representative Samuel Marr gave his report to the Board and mentioned that that he heard many wonderful comments regarding this year’s Chizzle Wizzle show, which was called “60’s Invasion”.

 

Sam advised the Board that one student had come forward so far to express their interest to Cony Principal Anastasio in Sam’s position as Student Representative for the next school year on the Augusta School Board.

 

Sam mentioned that spring sports have started up.

 

There will be a Children’s Arts Play this Friday at Cony High School.

 

Sam stated that the Student Council had trouble getting up and running this year.

 

4)      Resignations and Retirements:

 

A.  Resignations:

 

1.   Jessica Laliberte - Letter of Resignation dated March 16, 2008 informing the Augusta School Department that she would be resigning from her position as a 1st Grade Teacher at Farrington Elementary School effective with the close of the 2007-2008 school year.

 

2.   Michael Cunnane – Letter of Resignation dated March 27, 2008 informing the Augusta School Department that you would be resigning from your position as an 8th Grade Science Teacher at Hodgkins Middle School effective with the close of the 2007-2008 school year.

 

3.  Jennifer Dowdy – Letter of Resignation dated March 31, 2008 informing the Augusta School Department that she would be resigning from her position as a District-Wide Literacy Mentor for the Augusta School Department effective with the close of the 2007-2008 school year.

 

4.   Gregory Henderson – Letter of Resignation dated April 4, 2008 informing the Augusta School Department that he would be resigning from his position as a Guidance Counselor at Cony High School effective with the close of the 2007-2008 school year.

 

5.   Michael E. Tracy, Jr. – Letter of Resignation dated April 8, 2008 informing the Augusta School Department that he would be resigning from his position as a Social Studies Teacher at Cony High School.

 

  1. Retirements:  None.

 

5)      Recognitions:  Cony High School Athletic Director Dan Bowers announced the sports-related recognitions to the Board.  Both Bethany Dumas and Rachel Mack stood and were congratulated.  Swimming Coach Jon Millett announced the recognition of Swimmer of the Year Cameron Dufour to the Board.  Two members of the Jazz Band were in attendance and addressed the Board relative to their activities.  CATC Director Scott Phair announced the recognition of Mike Nicholas to the Board, and Mike stood and was congratulated for the work that he does.

 

A.  Bruce Dostie – Nominated for Coach of the Year for Ice Hockey.

B.   Sean Totman – Nominated for Coach of the Year for Wrestling.

C.  Cameron Dufour – Named Swimmer of the Year.

D.  Bethany Dumas – 2008 Kennebec Journal Indoor Track and Field Girls Athlete of the Year.

E.   Rachel Mack – Nominated for Gatorade Player of the Year and Named Miss Maine Basketball.

F.   Cony H.S. Jazz Band – 3rd Place Finish at the Maine Music Educators Association H.S. State Instrumental Jazz Festival (Mar. 14 & 15, 2008).

G.  Mike Nicholas – Instructor, Building Trades Program. (Enclosed is a letter of appreciation to Mike from Dave Cheever, Maine State Archivist, thanking Mike and his students for restoring a pew from the Penney Memorial Baptist Church for use in the Maine State Archives lobby area.)

 

6)      Informational Items:

 

A.     Out-of-State Professional Development Travel:

1.   Rene Albison, CATC – Trip to Manchester, NH – April 16-17, 2008 –

      2008 Grant Writing & Resource Development Conference.

 

2.   Debra Gilbert, CATC - Trip to Manchester, NH – April 16-17, 2008 –

      2008 Grant Writing & Resource Development Conference.

 

B.     Athletic and Extra-Curricular Nominations:

 

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

     

1)          Carrie Lasselle - Hodgkins Head Softball Coach

2)          Fred Searcy - Hodgkins Head Boys’ & Girls’ Track Coach

3)          Robby Vachon - Cony Asst. Baseball Coach

4)          Eric Lloyd - Cony Vol. Asst. Baseball Coach

5)          Rex Turner - Cony Vol. Asst. Baseball Coach

6)          Rollie St. Pierre - Cony Asst. Softball Coach

7)          Travis Brennan - Cony Vol. Asst. Softball Coach

8)          Noel Levasseur - Cony Vol. Asst. Softball Coach

9)          Kirk Cooper - Cony Asst. Boys’ & Girls’ Track Coach

10)      Taylor Harmon - Cony Vol. Asst. Track Coach

11)      TJ Maines - Cony Asst. (JV) Boys’ Lacrosse Coach

12)      John Dennett - Cony Asst. (JV) Girls’ Lacrosse Coach

13)      Matthew Greear - Cony Asst. Boys’ & Girls’ Track Coach

 

7)      Committee Reports:

A.     Finance:  Member Sue Dowling gave the Finance Committee Report to the Board.

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

 

B.     Curriculum & Education:  Member Dick Barnes gave the Curriculum & Education Committee Report to the Board.

1.      Curriculum Coordinator’s Report.  Curriculum Director Bobbie Jordan gave her report to the Board.

 

C.     Personnel & Negotiations:

1.      Personnel & Negotiations Committee Chairman’s Report.  Member Sue Dowling gave the Personnel & Negotiations 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 Robert Morang as a Part-Time Music Teacher at Hussey Elementary School.

           

Move to approve the

Nomination of Robert Morang as a Part-Time Music Teacher at Hussey Elementary School.

Motion:

Yeas:

 

Nays:

Vote:

Sue Dowling  Second:  Darek Grant

6; Members Dowling, Dennison, Emerson,

    Rende, Grant, and Barnes

0

Motion (Passed/Failed) 6 to 0.

 

9)      Public Comment on Non-Personnel Agenda Items:

10)  Unfinished Business:

A.     Policy Adoptions/Revisions/Deletions: 

 

      1.   Motion to approve the Second Reading of Policy File #JJI-

            Philosophy of Athletics.

 

Move to approve

the Second Reading of

Policy File #JJI-

Philosophy of Athletics.

Motion:

Yeas:

 

Nays:

Vote:

Darek Grant  Second:  Nate Rende

6; Members Dowling, Dennison, Emerson,

    Rende, Grant, and Barnes

0

Motion (Passed/Failed) 6 to 0.

 

11)  New Business:

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

 

1.   Motion to approve - Skills USA – Trip to Kansas City, MO – June 22-28, 2008 – National Championships. 

 

Move to approve

Skills USA – Trip to Kansas City, MO –

June 22-28, 2008 –

National Championships.

Motion:

Yeas:

 

Nays:

Vote:

Darek Grant  Second:  Sue Dowling

6; Members Dowling, Dennison, Emerson,

    Rende, Grant, and Barnes

0

Motion (Passed/Failed) 6 to 0.

 

      2.   Motion to approve – Cony G.A.P.P. – Trip to Puchheim, Germany –
June 18-July 9, 2008 – Short-Term International Exchange.

 

Move to approve

Cony G.A.P.P. – Trip to Puchheim, Germany –
June 18-July 9, 2008 – Short-Term International Exchange.

Motion:

Yeas:

 

Nays:

Vote:

Sue Dowling  Second:  Nate Rende

6; Members Dowling, Dennison, Emerson,

    Rende, Grant, and Barnes

0

Motion (Passed/Failed) 6 to 0.

 

B.   Policy Adoptions/Revisions/Deletions.  None.

 

C.  Nominations for Administrative Positions:  None.

 

D.  Motion to approve the Recommended Salary and Benefit Package for Non-Represented Employees.

 

Move to approve

the Recommended Salary

and Benefit Package for

Non-Represented

Employees.

Motion:

Yeas:

 

Nays:

Vote:

Sue Dowling  Second:  Nate Rende

6; Members Dowling, Dennison, Emerson,

    Rende, Grant, and Barnes

0

Motion (Passed/Failed) 6 to 0.

 

E.  Motion to approve the following Continuing Contracts:

 

Move to approve the

following Continuing

Contracts.

Motion:

Yeas:

 

Nays:

Vote:

Sue Dowling  Second:  Nate Rende

6; Members Dowling, Dennison, Emerson,

    Rende, Grant, and Barnes

0

Motion (Passed/Failed) 6 to 0.

 

1.            Caitlin Best

2.            Jennifer Boynton

3.            Nicole Bruyere

4.            Ellen Byron

5.            Karen Carville

6.            Rita Clement

7.            Laurie Crummett

8.            Timothy De Blois

9.            Susan Derector

10.        Matthew Greear

11.        Kerry Hamilton

12.        Shauna Jamieson

13.        Valerie Jeffers

14.        Daniel Johnston

15.        Caroline Joseph

16.        Tracy Kinney

17.        Courtney Kreider

18.        Kendra Lakeman

19.        Annette Messier

20.        Robbie Morin

21.        Bonnie Nielson

22.        Michelle Rioux

23.        Mary Ripa

24.        Jamie Schofield

25.        Elizabeth Tiemann

26.        Judith Wheeler

27.        Lori White

 

F.  Motion to approve the following Year-Two Probationary Contracts:

 

Move to approve the

following Year-Two

Probationary Contracts.

Motion:

Yeas:

 

Nays:

Vote:

Sue Dowling  Second:  Nate Rende

6; Members Dowling, Dennison, Emerson,

    Rende, Grant, and Barnes

0

Motion (Passed/Failed) 6 to 0.

 

1.      Linda Bailey

2.      Stewart Brittner

3.      Margo Caswell

4.      Stephanie Connors

5.      Peter Couture

6.      Anthony Crabtree

7.      Holly Daigle

8.      Kendra Dechenes

9.      Mark Dennett

10.  Sue Dionne

11.  Lindsey DosSantos

12.  Ashley Foster

13.  Doreen Franklin

14.  Amy Hoague

15.  Katherine Hollicker

16.  Kelly King

17.  David Klippert

18.  Lynn Richard

19.  Georgann Rollins

20.  Lori Small-Bolster

21.  Stephanie Turgeon

 

G.  Motion to approve a change to the Superintendent’s wage and benefit package comparable to that received by the Augusta Admin. Assoc., pursuant to

Policy CBD.

 

Move to approve a

change to the 

Superintendent’s wage and benefit package comparable to that received by the Augusta Admin. Assoc., pursuant to Policy CBD.

Motion:

Yeas:

 

Nays:

Vote:

Sue Dowling  Second:  Darek Grant

6; Members Dowling, Dennison, Emerson,

    Rende, Grant, and Barnes

0

Motion (Passed/Failed) 6 to 0.

 

H.  Motion to approve a change to the Business Manager’s Contract comparable to those received by other professional positions.

     

Move to approve a

change to the 

Business Manager’s Contract comparable to those received by other professional positions.

Motion:

Yeas:

 

Nays:

Vote:

Sue Dowling  Second:  Darek Grant

6; Members Dowling, Dennison, Emerson,

    Rende, Grant, and Barnes

0

Motion (Passed/Failed) 6 to 0.

 

I.    Motion to approve contracting with the Georgetown School Department for Administrative, Special Education, and Business Office Services.

 

Move to approve
contracting with the Georgetown School Department for Administrative, Special Education, and Business Office Services.

Motion:

Yeas:

 

Nays: