To:       School Board

Fr:       Victoria Burns, Superintendent

Re:       Superintendent’s Report

Date:    July 22, 2009

 

1.                     Dates: The following School Board dates are scheduled for July and August 2009:

           

                        July 22                        School Board Meeting at Dunn School at 6:30 p.m.

July 27-28       Dropout Prevention Conference at Orono. Sheri Robinson will attend.

July 29            School Board Workshop Orientation at 6:30 at the G-NG HS Café. Ann Chapman from Drummond-Woodsum will facilitate a meeting on the roles and responsibilities of the School Board.

August 3-6      Reinventing Schools Coalition Institute at MSAD #15’s Middle School. Tod Bennett, Anne Rowe, Sheri Robinson and Kathleen Potter will attend the 4 day workshop and work with a team to develop the first year implementation plan for MSAD #15’s transition to a Standards-Based system.

August 12       School Board Meeting and Workshop at 6:30 at G-NG HS Café

August 19       School Board Workshop will be held at 6:30 p.n. at NG Meeting House. The workshop will focus on the development of MSAD #15’s 5-year Strategic Plan

 

2.         Reinventing Schools Coalition (RISC) Update:

                        (See attached powerpoint.)

 

3.        Retirements

        Resignations

        New Hires (See attached list.)

 

4.        The new entrance to the high school is progressing on schedule. Terry Towle, Director of Finance and Operations, is connecting with the Town of Gray to ensure that a traffic officer is in place for the beginning of the school year.

 

5.         At the June Department of Education’s Superintendent’s Conference the Commissioner shared the attached handout for the General Purpose Aid for Local Schools (State Subsidy). The Commissioner predicted that state subsidy will decrease after 10-11 and suggested that continued poor revenues may suggest another curtailment in the 09-10 school year. A meeting may be called in August to review the status of state revenue and its impact on the schools.

 

 

Background for June 22 Agenda

Discussion

1.         Finance End of the Year Transfers

Terry Towle, Director of Finance and Operations, reviewed the end of the year transfers with the Finance Committee on June 25^th. Attached are the transfers required by policy above $10,000. As discussed in the Finance Committee, Policy DIE Spending Control/Transfers Policy should be updated due to the stipulation that transfers needed to close the school budget must get prior approval before the first Board meeting in June as well as new requirements by the State involving transfers.

            (See attached document.)

 

2.         Stimulus Technology Plan and the New Position for Integration Ed Tech 111.

Earlier in the year, the Board agreed that the $300,6000 of the stimulus money returned to the District due to the 08-09 budget curtailment could be used for technology. The administrators met to create the technology implementation plan to account for the infusion of 1-1 laptops in grades 7-12 as well as the purchase of the older middle school laptops to be used in grades K-6. In addition to the purchase of computers and associated equipment, a portion of the money was spent on a K-2 Ed Tech 111 position and work agreement costs in grades 5-12 to support staff in the use of this equipment in instruction. A new one-year Ed Tech 111 for Technology Integration for K-2 is on the agenda. This position will be paid through the use of the stimulus funding.

 

3.         Football Stipends

Due to the fact that the Schedule B Stipends have not been approved by the Association at this time, I am recommending that the Football stipends be approved at tonight’s meeting as new stipend positions under the current Schedule B contract.

 

4.         08-09 Climate Surveys

Attached are the parent responses to three district questions regarding communication, budgeting and facilities upkeep. Positive responses were given to all three questions.

 

5.         Window Wall and Door System Bid

Due to the fact that the bid will not be opened until July 29, this is for discussion only. (See attached document.)

 

6.         July 29^th Workshop

Ann Chapman from Drummond-Woodsum will facilitate a Board Orientation Workshop on July 29^th. Please come to the board meeting with any questions or area of School Board law you would like discussed.

 

 

 

Action

Middle School Roof Bid

Facilities Committee recommended that the Middle School roof be fixed. It is recommended that the bid be awarded to G&E Roofing from Augusta.

 

New Ed Tech 11 positions (2) funded through special education stimulus money

Attached to your packet is a request for a (2) 27.5 hour weekly new K-2 Ed Tech 11 position for Russell and Memorial. Erin Chase presented her rationale for these positions at an earlier Board meeting and informed the Board that they would be funded from the federal stimulus money. The purpose of these new positions is for early intervention. At-risk K-2students will be identified and given immediate remediation to prevent the students from falling behind and needing special education services.