MINUTES

AUGUSTA BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2007

6:15 p.m. – pre-board meeting

7:00 p.m. – Business Meeting, CATC Cafeteria

The following Board Members were present:

Chair:	William Stokes
Board Members:	Susan Campbell, Darek Grant, Jane Dennison, Richard Barnes, Kim Silsby, Suzanne Dowling, Gregg Bernstein

Board Member(s) absent were:

Chair:

William Burney

Also present were:

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

6:15 p.m. – PRE-BOARD MEETING

7:00 p.m. - BUSINESS MEETING:

1) Opening:

A. Call to Order

B. Pledge of Allegiance

C. Presentations:

1. MEA Results Presentation – Dr. Jordan:

Dr. Jordan reported to the Board on the MEA results and stated that the middle level (7^th and 8^th Grades) continues to score below State standards in Reading, Math, Writing, and Science.

Dr. Jordan stated that, in Elementary School Grades 4-8, Reading scores improved, Math scores varied depending on grade level, Writing scores were at State standards, and Science scores were slightly below State standards.

2. Wellness Conference:

Member Dowling reported to the Board on the Augusta Wellness Team’s attendance at the XXII Maine Schoolsite Health Promotion Conference held on June 25-27, 2007 at Sugarloaf, ME. Member Dowling mentioned that a number of Workshops were held, including Eating Disorders, etc.

Member Dowling mentioned that the School Department received a Certificate of Attendance award for ten years of attendance at the Conference.

2) Approval of Minutes:

A. Motion to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of July 11, 2007.

Move to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of July 11, 2007 as submitted.

Motion: Yeas: Nays: Vote:

Sue Dowling Second: Sue Campbell 7; Campbell, Grant, Dennison, Barnes, Silsby, Dowling, Bernstein 0 Motion Passed Unanimously 7 to 0.

3) Communications:

A. Letters:

1. July 9, 2007 letter to Cony Principal James Anastasio from Ms. Pamela

Gray-Bennett from the New England Association of Schools & Colleges, Inc., Commission on Public Secondary Schools, Bedford, MA.

2. June 25, 2007 letter to CATC Director Scott Phair from the Maine Education Credit Union regarding in-school branch proposal.

B. Student Council Report: None.

4) Resignations and Retirements:

A. Resignations:

1. Tina Kanaris – Letter of Resignation dated July 3, 2007.

Resigning from her position as Grade 6 Teacher at Gilbert Elementary School effective with the close of the 2006-2007 school year.

2. Edie Johnston – Letter of Resignation dated July 20, 2007.

Resigning from her position as Literacy Mentor

effective with the close of the 2006-2007 school year.

2. Retirements:

1. Sra Ingraham – Letter of Retirement received on July 9, 2007.

Retiring from her position as Physical Education Teacher at Hodgkins Middle School effective with the end of the 2006-2007 school year.

5) Recognitions: None.

6) Informational Items:

A. Out-of-State Professional Development Travel: None.

B. Athletic and Extra-Curricular Nominations: None.

C. Minutes from the July 25^th Joint Meeting with Representatives from

the Gardiner School Board (SAD #11) and the Augusta School Board.

Member Grant reported to the Board relative to this meeting.

7) Committee Reports:

A. Finance:

Member Campbell, Finance Committee Chair, gave the Finance Committee Report to the Board. The next Finance Committee Meeting will be held on the Monday after Labor Day (Sept. 10^th).

1. Business Manager’s Report:

Mr. Jurdak, Business Manager, gave the Business Manager’s Report to the Board.

B. Curriculum & Education:

Member Stokes, Curriculum & Education Committee Chair, gave the Curriculum & Education Report to the Board.

1. Curriculum Coordinator’s Report:

Dr. Jordan, Curriculum Coordinator, gave the Curriculum Coordinator’s Report to the Board.

C. Personnel & Negotiations:

There was no Personnel & Negotiations Meeting held in August.

1. Personnel & Negotiations Committee Chairman’s Report: None.

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.)

1. Motion to approve all of the below Consent Items:

Move to approve all of the below Consent Items.

Motion: Yeas: Nays: Vote:

Sue Campbell Second: Kim Silsby 7; Campbell, Grant, Dennison, Barnes, Silsby, Dowling, Bernstein 0 Motion Passed Unanimously 7 to 0

A. Nominations for Professional (Teachers and Ed Techs) Positions:

1. Kendra Dechenes – Science (Chemistry) Teacher- Cony High School.

Ms. Dechenes did not attend the Board Meeting.)

2. Ashley Foster – Grade 3 Teacher – Lincoln Elementary School.

Ms. Foster attended the meeting, stood, and was introduced to the group.)

9) Public Comment on Non-Personnel Agenda Items: None.

10) Unfinished Business:

A. Policy Adoptions/Revisions/Deletions: None.

B. Discussion – School Consolidation: Dr. Brown led the discussion relative to School Consolidation.

C. Proposed Augusta School Department Goals – 2007-2008.

The motion to approve the Proposed Augusta School Department Goals – 2007-2008

was tabled until the next Board Meeting on August 22^nd in order to add additional goals.

Member Silsby suggested adding a goal that would place emphasis on Middle School rigor.

1. Motion to table the approval of the Proposed Augusta School Department Goals – 2007-2008.

Move to table the approval of the Proposed Augusta School Department Goals – 2007-2008.

Motion: Yeas: Nays: Vote:

Sue Campbell Second: Sue Dowling 7; Campbell, Grant, Dennison, Barnes, Silsby, Dowling, Bernstein 0 Motion Passed Unanimously 7 to 0

11) New Business:

A. Student Activity Travel Requests: None.

2. Policy Adoptions/Revisions/Deletions.

1. Motion to approve Revisions to Policy File: IKE-Promotion and Retention of Students (K-12) – First Reading.

Move to approve Revisions to Policy File: IKE-Promotion and Retention of Students (K-12) – First Reading.

Motion: Yeas: Nays: Vote:

Sue Campbell Second: Kim Silsby 7; Campbell, Grant, Dennison, Barnes, Silsby, Dowling, Bernstein 0 Motion Passed Unanimously 7 to 0

2. Motion to approve Revisions to Policy File: IKF-Graduation Requirements –

First Reading.

Move to approve Revisions to Policy File: IKF-Graduation Requirements – First Reading.

Motion: Yeas: Nays: Vote:

Sue Campbell Second: Sue Dowling 7; Campbell, Grant, Dennison, Barnes, Silsby, Dowling, Bernstein 0 Motion Passed Unanimously 7 to 0

3. Nominations for Administrative (Principals, Directors, Managers) Positions: None.

4. Local Delegate (and Alternate Delegate) to Maine School Boards Association (MSBA) Annual Delegate Assembly.

1. Motion to appoint a Delegate (and Alternate Delegate) to the MSBA Annual Delegate Assembly

Move to appoint a Delegate (and an Alternate Delegate) to the MSBA Annual Delegate Assembly.

Motion: Yeas: Nays: Vote:

Sue Dowling Second: Kim Silsby 7; Campbell, Grant, Dennison, Barnes, Silsby, Dowling, Bernstein 0 Motion Passed Unanimously 7 to 0

The Board appointed Member Sue Campbell as the Delegate and Member Sue Dowling as the Alternate Delegate.

5. Bids.

1. Motion to award the School Nutrition Bid to PFG North Center for school year 2007-2008.

Move to award the School Nutrition Bid to PFG North Center for school year 2007-2008.

Motion: Yeas: Nays: Vote:

Sue Dowling Second: Sue Campbell 7; Campbell, Grant, Dennison, Barnes, Silsby, Dowling, Bernstein 0 Motion Passed Unanimously 7 to 0

12) Superintendent's Report:

13) Reports from Other School Officials:

14) Audience Recognition for Non-Agenda Items:

Member Dowling suggested removing the faded bricks from the walkway in front of Cony High School.

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

A. Motion to Enter Executive Session.

Move to enter Executive Session per Statutory Citation 1 M.R.S.A. §405(6)(D).

Motion: Yeas: Nays: Vote: Time:

Gregg Bernstein Second: Dick Barnes 7; Campbell, Grant, Dennison, Barnes, Silsby, Dowling, Bernstein 0 Motion Passed Unanimously 7 to 0 9:20 a.m.

B. Motion to Adjourn from Executive Session.

Move to adjourn from Executive Session.

Motion: Yeas: Nays: Vote: Time:

Dick Barnes Second: Gregg Bernstein 7; Campbell, Grant, Dennison, Barnes, Silsby, Dowling, Bernstein 0 Motion Passed Unanimously 7 to 0 9:30 p.m.

15) Adjourn:

A. Motion to Adjourn:

Move to Adjourn.

Motion: Yeas: Nays: Vote: Time:

Dick Barnes Second: Sue Dowling 7; Campbell, Grant, Dennison, Barnes, Silsby, Dowling, Bernstein 0 Motion Passed Unanimously 7 to 0 9:40 p.m.

Next Business Meeting of Board of Education

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

7:00 p.m. – Special Board Meeting – CATC Cafeteria