Minutes of March 20, 2025

MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ MEETING OF March 20, 2025

Current Board Members- 

        North Berwick-  Lauren Janousek, Kate Whalen, Joshua Tabor

                           Berwick- Alison Herlihy, Elva Lovejoy, Peg Wheeler

                           Lebanon- Nancy Sewell, Jeridene Basko, Nancy Neubert

(For a full account of this meeting please review the video here…Link you can choose to view the transcript in progress by clicking CC for subtitles.)

A meeting of the Board of Directors was held in person on March 20, 2025 at 7:00 pm with all members attending.

Pledge of Allegiance

There were 56 in the audience. 

Ms. Whalen read the public input statement. 

Public Input:

Mr. Joe Forte, of North Berwick, discussed the possibility of charging students a fee to park at NHS as a potential revenue source. 

Mr. Tom Hilford of North Berwick shared his concerns regarding imagery in the budget document that was shared. He did not feel it was professional. 

He also noted that the facility committee’s study shared cost estimations but no actual recommendations. And he also noted there was no cost of the consolidation. He noted as well that the enrollment study shared a reduction of 718 but only excess room for 267 which indicated to him that we are already right sized, so there is a question regarding the reconfiguration. Lastly he noted that much of the costs shared in the facility study were to bring our buildings up to ADA compliance but the buildings are grandfathered at this time, so making those costly changes is not necessarily a necessity. 

Sophie Larson, North Berwick, shared her feelings about Protocols and how they are necessary for us in our classrooms and in our society.  She asked that the leaders of our district also follow those protocols as part of a functioning community and good example for our students. 

Ms. Larson also noted that, as a parent and a teacher in the district,  with the facilities study she knew that there would be changes on the horizon and that change is hard.  She noted that she has high faith in her administrators though. She shared that she looked at a variety of options and have not found another viable option that is more comprehensive and sustainable as this plan. It 

feels cohesive. She urged the board to get behind the plan and quickly to allow staff to come to grips with potential changes, allow conversations to happen that will ensure safe landings for staff who may be impacted and for those who are fearful that they may be impacted so choose to look elsewhere while no clear guidance is provided. Parent teacher conferences are coming up and the staff can be well positioned to provide information and support of the reconfiguration plan. 

Mr. Mark Nelson, Lebanon, shared his thoughts on the reconfiguration plan. He stated that he was not necessarily against the realignment but he wants to know why and what is causing the deficit. He also noted that the Adult Education department feels as though it is being pushed out of the current location and that it feels that it is not being fully considered.  

Minutes: 

Ms. Janousek made the motion and it was seconded by to table the minutes of March 6th at this time. All members voted in favor and the motion passed. 

Policy First Reading… further conversation at the next meeting after the Policy Committee meets. 

GBEBB-Staff Conduct with Students 

ACAA Harassment and Sexual Harassment of Students

ACAA Harassment and Sexual Harassment of Students 

ACAA-R1 Student Discrimination/Harassment and Title IX Sexual Harassment Complaint 

Procedures 

ACAA-R2 Student Sex Discrimination/Harassment Complaint Procedure Adoption 

Employment: 

Leave of Absence:

Lauren Shain- Noble Middle School PE Teacher- Semester 1 of the 2025-2026 School Year.

Ms. Lovejoy made the motion and it was seconded by Mr. Tabor to approve the leave of absence of Ms. Shain. All members voted in favor and the motion passed.

Allison Beach- North Berwick Elementary School Excel Teacher 2024-2025 School Year.

Ms. Wheeler made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Lovejoyto approve the leave of absence of Ms. Beach. All members voted in favor and the motion passed.

Retirement:

Yuhong Sun- Noble High School Computer Science and Chinese Language Teacher 22 Years in education. Ms.Wheeler made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Lovejoy to approve the leave of the retirement of Ms. Sun with congratulations. All members voted in favor and the motion passed.

Adoption of Transportation Agreement 

The board reviewed the transportation agreement that was negotiated with the Teamsters Local Union No. 340.  Ms. Lovejoy made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Wheeler to approve the transportation agreement. All members voted in favor and the  motion passed. 

Adoption of Support Staff Agreement 

Postponed to a future meeting,

Financial Summary February 2025  

Ms. Denise Van Campen, Business Manager, shared with the board the financial summary for the General Fund as of February 28, 2025. Board members asked some clarifying questions and Ms. Van Campen responded.

Superintendent Update: 

David Vargas and student chef Andre received top honors at the York County Farm to Table cook off advancing to the state level competition later this spring!

World Culture Fair was held at Noble High School March 19th.

Parent conferences for Middle and High School are being held this week and next. 

Pre-K lottery: We currently have 119 families registered for the lottery! There will be two classrooms of 16 in each of the towns. 

Other:  

Public Input: 

Jen Dillon of Lebanon, (summarized written input): I support revising policies ACAA, AACA-R1, and ACAA-R2 to align with Executive Orders and protect funding, as gender identity has become a politically charged ideology lacking medical consensus, with organizations like the American College of Pediatricians and the Cass Review raising concerns. Recent studies show troubling outcomes from "gender-affirming care," and I worry deeply about children's wellbeing, their ability to make life-altering decisions, and the undermining of parental rights when we rush to embrace interventions without sufficient scientific validation.

Mr. Tom Hilford, of North Berwick shared his concerns regarding culture wars and not bringing them into our schools. He asked that we not amend policies or bring politics into our educational system. 

Mark Nelson, Lebanon, asked to reinforce Mr. Hilford’s comments and noted that it is important for students who are struggling with identity to be able to love themselves/like themselves. Please Stay away from these types of situations.. 

Adjournment: 

Ms. Lovejoy made a motion and it was seconded by Ms Janousek to adjourn the meeting. All members voted in favor and the motion passed. 

Adjourned at 7:39 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Audra Beauvais

Board Budget Workshop