Regular Board Meeting Minutes/February 4, 2010

R.S.U. #11
REGULAR MEETING
Merle E. Peacock, Jr. Board Room
Thursday, February 4, 2010
7:00 p.m.

Present: Mr. Hunnewell, Chair, Mrs. Fles, Vice Chair, Ms. Avery, Mr. Brown, Mr. Cone, Mrs. Couture, Mr. Farkas, Mr. Heath, Mr. Jermyn, Mrs. Potter, Mrs. Ricker,
Mr. Trott, Dr. Knowles, Ms. Disch

Absent: Mr. Tuttle

Mr. Hunnewell called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and declared a quorum present.

VOTED: 12-0 Motion by Mr. Jermyn, seconded by Mr. Trott, to approved agenda as amended.

VOTED: 12-0 Motion by Mr. Hunnewell, seconded by Mrs. Fles, to approve the minutes of the January 5, 2010, January 7, 2010, January 21, 2010 (Special Meeting), and
January 21, 2010 (Bimonthly Meeting).

Correspondence

Dr. Knowles had accepted a retirement letter from Irene MacDougall, AP/AD/GRMS
and a letter of resignation from Barbara Miller, Teacher/GAHS on behalf of the
RSU #11 Board.

Committee Reports

A. Policy Committee – No Meeting
B. Finance Committee – No Meeting
C. Negotiations Committee
D. Long Range Educational Planning Committee

Mrs. Ricker stated Mr. Tuttle reviewed the NCLB grants and the Maine
Department of Education will be coming on February 24th to talk to board
members, administrators and others. Dr. Knowles stated it is a day long review
and MSAD/RSU #11 is in good shape with all the grants.

Dr. Knowles stated the new NECAP test results are back, administrators will review them with their staff, and report to the board at the March 4th meeting. He stated the results showed growth considering it was a new test.

General Information

The Superintendent stated the transfers in the schools are in house personnel that have
requested the transfers which he has approved.

Dr. Knowles reviewed the preliminary information he has received from the State
regarding the GPA.

Old Business

Mr. Hunnewell stated another discussion should be held on Policy JICH/Drug and
Alcohol Use by Students. He asked whether the public input would be necessary to
change some of the verbiage, leave it as is, or set up meetings with some community
members, administrators, board members, teachers, and students to discuss the Policy.

The school board wished to first seek input on Policy JICH from the GAHS
students and faculty members. Mr. Hunnewell, Mrs. Fles, and Dr. Knowles
will design a process to facilitate the discussion.

New Business

Dr. Knowles reviewed the letter he received from Maine School Management
Association. He stated this is the third year of the budget referendum validation
Process and by statute school systems can choose how they want the budget
validation to happen.

Dr. Knowles asked the board if they wanted to continue the current budget validation
referendum process in RSU #11 for an additional three years or go back to referendum.
The change will have to be on the ballot in the spring.

VOTED: 12-0 Motion by Mr. Trott, seconded by Mr. Jermyn to have the superintendent explore the options of how to proceed to go back to the referendum type voting for
validating the system budget and report back to the Board.

Dr. Knowles stated a student at Gardiner Area High School wrote a letter requesting
to name the Little Theater after David Walker and Steve Lerette. Mr. Trott
suggested the Policy Committee set up a policy creating criteria to name rooms, etc.
after people, Dr. Knowles asked that Board Members send him or Mr. Heath their input.

VOTED:6-6 Motion by Mr. Hunnewell, seconded by Mrs. Potter to name the Little Theater after
David Walker and Steve Lerette and future names will come before the Board.

Motion failed.

VOTED: 12-0 Motion by Mr. Hunnewell, seconded by Mrs. Fles, to go into executive session at 8:10 p.m. to discuss GTA negotiations pursuant to 1MRSA 405(6)(D).

The Board reconvened at 8:23 p.m.

The Meeting adjourned at 8:23 p.m.

Attest a true record,

Dr. Paul D. Knowles, Secretary