Minutes of March 6, 2025

MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ MEETING OF March 6, 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.)

Ms. Lovejoy made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Janousek to go into executive session for Executive Session 1 MRSA §405(6)(D)  Labor Contract Negotiations- Teacher.  All members voted in favor and the motion passed. In at 6:32 pm. Out 6:58 pm. 

A meeting of the Board of Directors was held in person on March 6, 2025 at 7:00 pm with all members attending.  

Pledge of Allegiance

There were 38 in the audience. 

Ms. Whalen read the public input statement. 

Public Input:

Ms. Jennifer Dillon of Lebanon shared a concern regarding parental rights. She noted that parents guide children through many phases of life and our students' prefrontal cortex is not fully developed before age 25. She feels strongly that imposing personal beliefs onto our children is considered to be indoctrination. She also notes that she is concerned about judgment being made regarding determining if a home is safe based on willingness to support choices students are making on their sexuality etc. She feels that it doesn’t feel like the schools are working as a team with parents and feels like the schools are hiding things from parents. She noted that “Our kids deserve a fair and balanced education.”

Minutes: 

Ms. Wheeler  made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Herlihy to accept the minutes of the February 27, 2025 meeting. All members voted in favor  and the motion passed. 

Harriman Facilities Study Overview: 

Mr. Jamie Ouellette and Ms. shared an overview of the facility study that was completed by Harriman and Associates to provide guidance to the district regarding the current state of our buildings and what recommendations that they might have going forward as we look to develop a plan for the future. It is included here: Presentation

First Draft Budget Presentation- Superintendent Beauvais:

The Superintendent provided an overview of the first draft budget for the board.  

Employment: 

Resignation:

Jacob Miller- Physical Education Teacher Noble Middle School, at the end of the school year.. Ms. Lovejoy  made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Janousek to approve the resignation of Mr. Miller. All members voted in favor and the motion passed.

Terese Hodge- Secretary Noble Middle School. No Motion is needed. But the board noted appreciation for her years of service to the schools. 

Tours/ School Visits:

The Superintendent revisited with the board the conversation regarding board visits to the schools. She shared that there had been a discussion at the October 3rd meeting and a process/protocol had been shared with the board that tours and visits should be set up through the central office. Ms. Whalen made the motion and it was seconded by Ms. Wheeler to approve the protocol that was established in October and also to create a separate subcommittee to plan for being able to communicate with students, staff and parents on a regular basis. 

Discussion: Mr Tabor shared his concern with this protocol as he didn’t feel that it was an established protocol, more in line with a request/suggestion to set up tours not to visit the schools to do the work that he felt the board is compelled by state statute to conduct. He shared that he felt that this is a roadblock to the board getting into the schools as it adds an unnecessary step. He also noted that he felt that the administration was overstepping board policy KI. It was noted that within policy KI, it gives the oversight of the visiting procedures to the Superintendent: 

“The Board of Directors encourages the active interest and involvement of parents and citizens in the public schools.  In order to avoid interruption of the instructional program and to promote the safety of students and staff, building principals shall institute administrative procedures concerning visitors to the schools.  Such procedures shall be subject to the approval of the Superintendent. It is understood that procedures may vary from school to school due to differing considerations such as the age of the students and building layout and location.”

The board had a lengthy conversation with several board members weighing in. Ultimately, Ms. Whalen withdrew her motion and it was seconded by Ms. Wheeler and all members to withdraw the motion.  

Ms. Herlihy made the motion and it was seconded by Mr. Tabor to send policy KI  to the policy committee for updating. All members voted in favor except Ms. Lovejoy, Ms. Janousek, Ms. Wheeler and Ms. Whalen and the motion passed. 

Superintendent Update: 

Update on March 8th where the board will meet in the library from 9:00 to 2:00 for our budget overview. 

Budget timeline handout

Other:  

Ms. Herlihy asked about the use of cell phones at school and asked about if our students are required to turn them in as they come into classrooms or not. She noted that Somersworth HS had recently implemented this protocol at their school. The Superintendent noted that she will invite the principals to speak to the board about current practice as they contemplate this idea.We currently do not have a district policy, but each of the schools has protocols in place and they are noted in the student handbooks. 

Ms. Stanton Whalen asked about setting up a regular session with board members and staff and parents to get feedback. She asked that it be added as an agenda item for a future meeting. 

Ms Basko noted that we need to send a shout out to Owen Gray for his 100th wrestling win!

Public Input: 

None 

Adjournment: 

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

Adjourned at 9:01 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Audra Beauvais