MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ MEETING OF June 15, 2023
Current Board Members-
North Berwick- Lauren Janousek, Kate Whalen, Lynn Manley
Berwick- Travis Doiron, Elva Lovejoy, Denise Mallett
Lebanon- Victoria Travers, Stephanie Hagenbuch, Nancy Neubert
A meeting of the Board of Directors was held in person in North Berwick, Maine on June 15, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. with all members attending except Ms. Manley.
There were 36 in the audience
Ms. Hagenbuch made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Janousek to go into executive session for Executive Session 1 MRSA §405(6)(A)Evaluation of Employee. All members voted in favor and the motion passed. In at 6:30pm. Out at 7:23 pm.
The vice chair read the public input statement.
Public Input:
Jessica Pearson of Berwick and Jeremy Kasten of Berwick shared input from 30 families.
Anna Dupuis of Berwick shared her experiences with the NMS excel program and the positive impact that it has had on her life. Question? Why would you change something that is working?
Ella Dupuis of Berwick shared her experiences with the excel program at the Knowlton School and the positive impact that it has had as well as the difficulty for her to be able to learn due to behavioral issues within the typical classroom setting.
Emily Herrick of Berwick shared her experiences within the 7th grade excel program. She discussed the supports that have been provided through Ms. Bui, the excel teacher at Noble Middle School. She also expressed her concern regarding the humanity class for next year .
A general consensus from the group was that the Excel Director position should be posted immediately.
Ella Morgan of Berwick shared her experience within her first grade classroom and the negative impact of being asked to remain quiet and not allowed to answer questions, so that other students could answer them. It had a lasting impact on her.
She also shared a letter from another Noble student, Bryce Collins: I learned a lot of things early that allowed me to get into the more advanced programs in the future. Teachers encouraged surpassing expectations instead of just meeting expectations. It influenced the way I felt about school and my future.
Edie Mariscal, of Berwick, shared her brothers beliefs about what would happen if Excel was not
available to him. She shared that the excel program made a difference in her brother’s life and he is much happier for it.
Stephan Shaeffer of North Berwick, shared a letter from his daughter, Helena.
Astrida Shaeffer of North Berwick, shared her beliefs regarding the special needs that our excel students require and that we should be expanding the Excel program rather than reducing it.
Holly Dupuis, Berwick, shared her concerns.
Kate Mariscal, of Berwick, shared the Noble Mission Statement, the power of the statement and how it is not actually being addressed with the cuts to the excel program. She expressed her belief that there needs to be an excel teacher in the classrooms.
Harald Tuveson of North Berwick shared that excel can be very useful for kids who need more of a challenge and can’t get it within their own classroom.
Brenda O’Connor of Lebanon shared with the board that she would like to thank the board and the district for the support that has been given to excel over the years and that she asks that we continue to do the right thing.
Recognition of Lynn Manley and Denise Mallett:
The Superintendent and board chair presented plaques to Lynn Manely, Denise Mallett and Stephanie Hagenbuch. Ms. Whalen also presented flowers and cards and thanked the for their service.
Ms. Whalen also welcomed Josh Tabot of North Berwick and Jeri Basko of Lebanon as new board members who were present this evening in the audience.
Minutes: June 1, 2023 Table’d for the evening. Ms. Hagenbuch made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Lovejoy to table the minutes of June 1, 2023 until the next meeting. All members voted in favor and the motion passed.
Budget Ratification:
The Superintendent then shared the ratification of the vote for the referendum. Ms. Lovejoy made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Hagenbuch to submit the Computation and Declaration of Votes.
Yay Nay
Town of Berwick 291 142
Town of Lebanon 536 368
Town of North Berwick 148 60
Total of the Vote: 975 570
Ms. Neubert the motion that the Warrant for Assessment of Tax and the Assessment Schedule and Notice of Installments for each member municipality prepared by the Treasurer for fiscal
Financial Summary May 2023:
Ms. Denise Van Campen, business manager for the district shared the financial report for May of 2023.
Adult Education Criminal History Records Check/ Fingerprinting:
Currently, academic instructors in Noble Adult and Community Education, are required to be fingerprinted and follow the process through our human resource department.
Once it was noted that all of our enrichment instructors were not fingerprinted we determined it to be important that all of our instructors who work under the MSAD 60 title, based on the state
We understand the unique situation that many of our one time instructors or small business folks are in so we would like to support… We will reimburse our instructors for their fingerprinting after their class is complete. The funding will come out of the revenue that is created by the courses.
The HR department will take care of the oversight of ensuring that the instructors are following through with fingerprinting. We may allow exceptions to the requirement of the fingerprinting being done in the state of Maine for those instructors who reside in NH. Those will be determined on a case by case basis.
This situation doesn’t impact the rest of our staff who are required via the department of education to have their fingerprints and CHRC completed at their own cost as those are a more “typical” requirement. In order for staff to receive their certification documentation through the department of education, they must be fingerprinted at a specific approved site. We can absolutely make exceptions to support our individual enrichment instructors without setting a precedent for all staff.
Assistant Superintendent Contract:
Ms. Hagenbuch made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Mallett to approve the employment contract of Assistant Superintendent Sue Austin. All members voted in favor and the motion passed.
Business Manager Contract:
Ms. Hagenbuch made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Lovejoy to approve the employment contract of Business Manger Denise Van Campen. All members voted in favor and the motion passed.
Superintendent Contract:
Ms. Hagenbuch made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Lovejoy to approve the employment contract of Superintendent Audra Beauvais. All members voted in favor and the motion passed.
Nomination of Eric Knowlton Assistant Principal
Ms. Neubert made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Mallett to approve the employment of Elyse Galeucia. All members voted in favor and the motion passed.
Nomination of Noble Middle School Principal
Ms. Lovejoy made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Mallett to approve the employment of Michael Archambault. All members voted in favor and the motion passed
Employment:
New Hire:
Natalie Batchelder: VEH Grade 1 Teacher. Ms. Janousek made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Hagenbuch to approve the employment of Natalie Batchelder. All members voted in favor and the motion passed.
Resignation:
Amanda Annicelli: VEH Grade 1 Teacher. Ms. Neubert made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Travers to approve the resignation of Amanda Annicelli. All members voted in favor and the motion passed.
Nicole Harvey: VEH Grade 1 Teacher. Ms. Hagenbuch made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Lovejoy to approve the resignation of Nicole Harvey. All members voted in favor and the motion passed.
Summer Hires:
Ms. Mallett made the motion and it was seconded by Lovejoy to allow the superintendent to hire staff without board approval for the summer (June 16 through August 31, 2023). All members voted in favor and the motion passed.
Superintendent Update:
Graduation occurred on Friday June 9, 2023 and the evening went off really well.
There are 13 ed. Tech positions still to be hired (title 1, special education, literacy and math). Share with all that MSAD 60 is hiring!
The superintendent additionally welcomed the two new board members, Josh Tabor of North Berwick and Jeri Basko of Lebanon, as well as the new board member from Berwick, Peg Wheeler who will be joining us.
Other:
Ms. Mallett shared her thanks and respect to the board for their ongoing dialogue and support of each other on the board. She shared that there are often varying points of view but the board was always open to conversation and respectful discourse.
The Superintendent noted that there will be a meeting on July 10th at 5 pm to discuss the Excel Programming and how it will be continue to provide services in the future.
Ms. Janousek shared that there was a program question regarding food service and whether or not students might be able to access food for students who are not on campus for a school day. We will follow up on this.
Ms. Janousek also asked about Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) in our elementary schools and if she could potentially participate in a training.
Public Input:
Ella Morgan, of Berwick, shared a letter from Colin Macavoy, “I was really bored in the classroom and causing some problems and I wasn't learning much or enjoying school, but then I got placed in Excel and to this day it might be my favorite class I've ever been in. It allowed me to learn in an unconventional way, at my own pace, and to meet like minded friends within this really cool environment and without it, I don't think I would have liked school nearly as much. And there are still things I learned from Excel in elementary school that my friends in high school still don't know, and I think it's a great program and that it did a lot for me.
Ms. Lovejoy made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Hagenbuch to enter into Executive Session 1 MRSA §405(6)(A)Evaluation of Employee. All members voted in favor and the motion passed. In at 8:17 pm. Out at 9:10 pm.
Adjournment:
Ms. Neubert made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Mallett to adjourn the meeting. All members voted in favor and the motion passed.
Adjourned at 9:11pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Audra Beauvais