To:       School Board

Re:       Superintendent’s Report

Fr:       Victoria Burns, Superintendent

Date:    October 7, 2009

 

 

1.         During the month of September I attended the following meetings:

 

            Council for Continuous Improvement for Academics

Karen Caprio, Director of Curriculum and Staff Development, and Bruce Beasley, Dunn Principal, facilitated the first meeting of the Council. I want to express my appreciation to the following parents for volunteering their time for this important work: Julie Ricardi, Beth Sutherland, Jeanie Adams, and Andrea Norwood. The Council established norms and reviewed the action plan developed at the RISC Institute this summer. A subcommittee was formed to develop the criteria for “beacon” teachers who will incorporate performance based instructional strategies into their current classrooms and serve as models to other staff. RISC will provide a training for the “beacon” teachers sometime in December. The Council’s goal for 09-10 is to get at least 80% buy-in from all stakeholders on a shared vision to reorganize MSAD #15 into a performance-based system.

 

PATHS Advisory Meeting

Tod Bennett, School Board, and I attended the first General Advisory meeting of PATHS (Portland Arts and Technology High School). At the School Board meeting on October 7th, Mr. Bennett will provide a report.

 

            Administrative Goal Setting

I am meeting with the administrators to complete the goal setting related to their yearly performance evaluations. I anticipate that all goal-setting meetings will be finished by the second week of October.

 

Administrative Meeting Outcomes

The administrators and I met during the month of September to address both management and leadership issues. One issue focused on the procedure for the District’s response to observances/current events/and outside requests for instructional time. The administrative team agreed that a building based, developmental approach for requests for communication/use of instructional time should rest with the principals for a decision unless there is a Department of Education requirement or an extraordinary event that would require the District to give a unified response. In that case, the Superintendent will contact the Principals for a developmental, unified implementation.

 

Procedures for bus discipline slips were also reviewed with administration for consistency in implementation. Mr. Mank, Transportation Manager, was available for that discussion.

 

2.         Sherri Robinson, Tina Martell, and Tod Bennett, School Board Members, will attend the MSMA Annual Conference on October 22th and October 23th at the Augusta Civic Center.

 

3.         Thank You!

Parent Teacher Association (Patriot Parents) for sponsoring an informational night for the MSAD #15 flu clinics and helping with the implementation of the clinics.

 

The Town of Gray for sponsoring the summer athletic programs and providing the opportunity for our students to develop their physical skills.

 

School Board: Background Reports

 

Flu Clinics: Included in your packet is information regarding the MSAD #15 sponsored flu clinics for students. Ann Baiocchi and Sheila Giancola, School Nurses, will be available at the October 7^th meeting to provide background information.

 

Free Internet for Eligible Families: MSAD #15 was informed that funding is available for parents who are eligible for free and reduced lunches to receive free “dial-up” internet services .A letter will go home with the application information. Information is available in your packet, and Karen Caprio will be available at the October 7^th Board meeting to answer any questions.

 

Discussion

 

Title VI Grant: I am pleased to announce that MSAD #15 was awarded a $51,186 grant from the Department of Education through a Title VI, Rural Low-Income Grant. Karen Caprio, Director of Curriculum and Staff Development, applied for this grant to meet the State Goal of supporting technology in the classroom. MSAD #15’s plan is to create a model technology classroom in each of the five schools to be used as a learning lab for staff and students. Equipment purchased through this grant includes: interactive white boards, student electronic response systems, and projection devices. Also included is funding for the model classroom teachers’ time required for the planning and sharing of their work. The paperwork related to the grant is in your packet, and Karen Caprio will be available to answer any questions during the School Board meeting on October 7^th.

 

Community Service Club: The School Board approved a volunteer position for advising the Community Service Club in 2008-2009. Karen Licht, High School Teacher, and current club volunteer advisor, presented a request for full recognition of this club under Schedule B. Sherri Robinson, District Improvement Committee, will ask the Board to recognize the club and approve the stipend in order that the amount can be negotiated with Personnel and the Teachers’ Association. Materials regarding the club will be available prior to the Board meeting.