FLAGSTAFF RSU EUSTIS SCHOOL DEPARTMENT OCTOBER 7, 2014 5:30 P.M. AGENDA I. Call to order Sarah Strunk, Chair Sarah Strunk, Jeff Brickley, Casey Cote, and David Richards present. Sue Fotter was absent. II. Pledge of Allegiance III. See if the Board will approve the minutes of the 9/4/14 Board Meeting. IV. Welcome Guests V. Angela Norton, Healthy Community Coalition (Carol M. White P.E.P. Grant) Angela presented information about the grant and its goals using a power point presentation. The grant application, Franklin County Youth Bringing Home the Gold, covers RSU 9, MSAD 58, and Flagstaff RSU School Districts. The three year grant has three goals: increase physical activity, increase the number of students eating fruits and vegetables, and improve physical education and nutrition education curriculums. Activities are to promote fit, healthy, ready to learn students. Equipment, training, and programming will be provided with tools to incorporate movement both during and after school. VI. Superintendent s Report At the end of the meeting a group will start work on developing mission / vision statements for the Eustis School Department and Stratton School. VII. Principal s Report 1. Teacher Evaluation Instrument Pilot The State requires all school districts to have an approved Performance Evaluation and Professional Growth (PEPG) system for teachers and principals
in place for the 2015-16 school year. Districts can develop their own model, adopt the Maine DOE Teacher Performance Evaluation and Professional Growth Model, or use a combination. If districts, through a steering committee of staff and community members, do not come up with an approved plan the State will mandate the use of the State model. In this system 20% of a teacher s evaluation rating is determined by student growth, which is a combination of classroom goals and standardized testing. After reviewing components of the State model teachers felt that since we are a small district, it would make more sense to try a pilot of the State model this year, rather than try to develop our own aligned system. 2. Running Fiber Optics to the school (TDS) TDS was working inside and outside the building last Thursday to run fiber optic cable for the internet system. 3. Official Business Directional Sign (OBDS) Checklist Ms. Collins checked with the state DOT site and down loaded an Official Business Directional Sign Checklist and Application for a sign permit, to be used in designing a sign for placement on rte. 27. Interested individuals should see her to work on a design. 4. The school has received two donations from a community member. Vivian Lawrence donated a new American flag after hearing that ours was ripped and needed to be replaced. She also donated $1000 to be used for the students as we see a need. Thank you letters will be sent. 5. Teachers workshops have been and will be primarily focused on developing an integrated writing curriculum and assessment system. We will also continue to work on differentiating classroom instruction, and implementing a response to intervention system. Students are currently being assessed in reading, language usage and math using the NWEA. This information is used to taylor instruction to students needs in meeting Maine s Learning Results goals. 6. A new student with high needs started this week. An IEP calling for constant adult supervision was in place. We have moved one of our ed techs into that position and have a substitute in place until we are able to hire another ed tech. All previous applicants are working now, so we are advertising. VIII.School Board Chair s Report The MSA school board conference registration is due Friday. Anyone interested in attending should sign the sheet so payment can be made. We need to address school board committee assignments.
VIII. Citizen Sub-Committee Report : The greenhouse group needs find a time to do a grounds survey to determine a suitable location and whether soil, water, etc. will be needed. Eric should be there. Possibly before the start of the next school board meeting. IX. Public Comment Paula Stevens: Some one with a bucket truck could untangle the flag pole rope. She will contact an acquaintance who runs one. Duncan Grant questioned the new bus schedule, commenting that some students were upset about having to get on the bus 10 min. earlier to make the switch at Tufulio s. Jed Stevens noted that he was okay with it. Both mentioned that the trip from there on the Carrabassett bus, with younger students who are dropped off in Kingfield, along with high school students was noisy and smelly. M. Shea explained that the change in bus runs saved time, fuel, and money, because the run all the way to Mt. Abram would be twice as long. Katie Wuori expressed concern about students walking to school on a road with no sidewalks. She asked if someone from the board would approach the town about putting in sidewalks. A. Norton suggested implementing the Walking School Bus program and will look into getting more information for us. V. Collins added that she has spoken to the bus driver about picking up students closer to school in the winter if snow banks narrow the road or it is extremely cold. A notice will be sent out to parents. Barry Crafts wondered if grants might be available to help with sidewalk construction. A. Norton suggested working with the Bicycle Coalition to get bike safety training for students. X. Discussion Items 1. Building Inspection Brick work, roof, etc. M. Shea: An engineer has checked out the building and made recommendations for repairs. The roof needs to be inspected and repaired over the kitchen area. We need a design to put out to bid to ensure that high standards are met. The work should wait to be done next year when the weather is warmer. S. Strunk: Sugarloaf has given recommendations for masons to repair and seal the brick work on the building. The glass windows in the gym should be repaired or replaced. There is some crumbling siding on the bottom of the building that should be replaced with vinyl. Eric Castle will be able to take care of that.
2. Posting signs for No Smoking, No Pets, Non use of school grounds after dusk (liability) V. Collins explained that state law prohibits any smoking on school grounds, including in cars; and pets are also prohibited on school grounds due to health and safety concerns. Not all people may know this. Cigarette buts and feces have been found on the school grounds. The non use of school grounds after dusk was recommended by Ed Antz who is an insurance inspector who checks the school out each year. It helps to protect us from liability if someone gets hurt after hours and gives us enforcement backing. B. Crafts suggested notifying the code enforcement officer if we have a problem with dogs on school grounds. 3. High School Tuition Policy S. Strunk and V. Collins have reviewed Carrabassett Valley s tuition policy to see if Eustis could use a modified version for high school students. There will be a first reading at the next board meeting, a public comment period, and a review by the school lawyer, before being voted on. 4. Future agenda items 1. committee formation - decision on which board members are on a given committee 2. building / facilities update M. Shea: the heating system is still not working well. The boiler is okay, but the heat distribution system is not. V. Collins: Mt. Mechanical was in Sept. 29th to do the annual maintenance. J. Brickley will look at the estimate for repairs and upgrades, then talk to M. Shea. 5. Adjustments to the Agenda none XI. Action Items 1. To see if the Board will approve non use of school grounds after dusk? Discussion: M. Shea: We could still be sued if there is an injury. This policy is not easily enforced. A. Norton: We don t want to discourage physical activity.
M. Shea: This only applies to after dusk. The public could still use the area while it is light. 2. To see if the Board will approve the hiring of Paul Bolduc as Bus Driver? Discussion: M. Shea: We currently have only one bus driver and one sub. 3. To see if the Board will approve the hiring of Erin Hayden as part time custodian? Motion to Approve: J. Brickley Discussion: M. Shea: Eric has been working 14 hour days. He could do more maintenance work if he had more time. Hiring a night cleaner and moving Sue to day time, might help to free him up. 4. To see if the board will accept the donation of $1000 for Vivian Lawrence? Discussion: A thank you letter will be prepared. Vote to approve: 4-0 to accept XII: mission / vision statement discussion Input into important words and phrases to be include in a mission and/or vision statement was given by school board members, teachers, and meeting attendees. Some of the ideas are included below. Discussion will continue during future meetings as to what statements we want to use to inform people of us and our values. These statements could be posted on the parent handbook, school calendar, web site, and posters in the school. Stratton School - A caring community where children come first. Flagstaff RSU - comprised of a community and school bound by a commitment to deliver
key words: Independent progressive community safe environment encourage life-long learning sharing/helping preparation community support close community dedicated & determined healthy, ready to learn welcoming a healthy choice small, supportive classrooms strong sense of community comfort zone for many Stratton School is an independent school which strives to prepare of our students in a progressive way to become educated, enlightened, enriched & inspired members of our world community. The mission of Flagstaff RSU, where children are treasured, is to foster a love of learning in an innovative, cooperative climate which empowers all students to be competent, productive, caring and responsible citizens. Statements that focus on using Elementary vocabulary to help the students understand the whole mission statement, avoid being too "wordy" or "big words" that the smaller children would not understand. Even if the tag line was child friendly then followed by a more descriptive paragraph.. a couple ideas to add to your many.. The Stratton School strives to develop lifelong learners who value themselves, contribute to their caring community, are positive and productive in a changing world. The Stratton School learning community encourages students to be safe, caring, respectful and ready to become positive life long leaders. Adjournment at 7:06 pm