MINUTES OF THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT 1 MEETING HELD May 18, 2015 AT 6:00 PM AT
THE BATH MIDDLE SCHOOL. (NOTE: These minutes are not official until approved by the Board.
Such action, either to approve or amend and approve, is anticipated at the June 22, 2015 meeting).
Members Present:
Timothy Harkins, Chairperson; Stephen August, Vice Chairperson; Alan
Walton, Megan Fuller, and Bill Perkins; Isabel Kovacs and Kara Leavitt,
Student Representatives; Patrick Manuel, Superintendent of Schools
Members Absent:
Jennifer Ritch-Smith and Kyle Yacoben
Others Present:
Judy Harvey, Debra Clark, Ellen Beal, David Cowie, Kevin O’Leary,
Sharon Brown, Sara Helman, Justin Keleher, Lisa Gastonguay, Ross
Berkowitz, Nancy Riggs, Jason Libby
CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Harkins called the meeting to order at 6:01 pm and the Pledge of Allegiance was
recited.
RECOGNITION AND COMMENTS FROM CHAIR
Chairperson Harkins requested that in the next Board report the administrators reflect on the
year, where we were strong and where we need to improve. Mr. Harkins asked that retiring
Principal Bud Solebello, Principal Sally Brown and Special Education Director Sharon Brown
also include what education means to them and what they want the Board to know as we move
forward in their report.
APPROVE/AMEND MINUTES OF APRIL 27, 2015 AND MAY 4, 2015
MOTION: August
SECOND: Walton
VOTE: Board (5-0)
Students (2-0)
TO: Approve the minutes of April 27, 2015 as written.
MOTION: Perkins
SECOND: August
VOTE: Board (5-0)
Students (2-0)
TO: Approve the minutes of May 4, 2015 as written.
ADJUSTMENTS TO AGENDA
The agenda was adjusted as follows:
 Student Report was moved to Item 5.1
 Two additional nominations will be added to Item 13.1
PUBLIC COMMENTS
None
GEOGRAPHY BEE PRESENTATION
Gifted/Talented instructor Judi Mansfield introduced the following RSU 1 students that qualified
to compete in the State Geography Bee: Trevor Hanna from Fisher-Mitchell School, Lilly Clifford
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from West Bath School, Liam Scanlon from Woolwich Central School, and Mia Garza from Bath
Middle School. Mrs. Mansfield reported that only 100 students throughout the state qualify to
participate in this competition. Trevor Hanna reviewed the process students go through in order
to qualify to participate in the geography bee at the state and national level. Mia Garza shared
her experiences with the Board and how the process has improved since she participated in the
bee last year.
MALT PRESENTATION
Special Education Director Sharon Brown reported that the efforts of the Maine Autism
Leadership Team (MALT) have paid off and thanked the Board for their support. Special
Education teacher Nancy Riggs shared some highlights from the Life Skills program and Special
Olympics.
School Psychologist and MALT Team Coordinator Sara Helman reported that the Maine Autism
Leadership Team was created three years ago. The first two years were professional
development of the MALT team members. This year the training has ended and the team was
left to do our own work in our district. The team’s priorities included (1) promote autism
awareness in the district, and (2) promote self-management plans for students with an Autism
Spectrum Disorder. The team led an autism awareness presentation for the Morse High School
staff while all the other schools in RSU 1 received the training last year. April 2nd was National
Autism Awareness Day and students and staff celebrated “Light It Up Blue” day throughout the
district with different activities in each school.
The team’s second goal of promoting self-management plans for students with an Autism
Spectrum Disorder (ASD) was more time consuming. There are 36 students in our district with
an ASD on their IEP as well as a few more with multiple disabilities, and several students with
autism that have a 504 plan or are not identified. Self-management is an evidence-based
intervention for executive skills and increasing self-regulation. Self-regulation is the ability to
prioritize, think, and act on our goals. Self- management is taking the adult management aspect
out and having our students manage themselves. We piloted self-management plans with
several students in our district and found it to be very successful.
The MALT team decided to do a professional development day with all special education staff in
March on self-management using an expeditionary learning building background knowledge
workshop model. The training was a success and those that participated recommended that all
staff receive the training. Members of the team went to various executive skills trainings this
year. One example at Morse High School is that a Special Education teacher has created
strategies binders for her students that the students can take to their classes to have access to it
all day. One goal of the MALT team is to have a strategies binder for each student that moves
with them from school to school to help promote independence and carry over to their next
school to show the staff what specifically works.
Future priorities include self-management plans to help students with all types of disabilities and
incorporate more direct executive skills coaching into specially designed instruction. The special
education staff would also like to see behavior intervention become a district priority when it
comes to professional development.
The MALT team would like to meet with the principals in the fall to talk about how we can bring
executive skills into their school and how it would work in their school specifically. Special
Education Director Sharon Brown felt that a reasonable goal for the MALT team would be to
begin to think strategically about how we can disseminate this information to staff.
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FOOD SERVICE PRESENTATION
Food service Director Ellen Beal described the process used to identify and notify parents of the
free/reduced lunch program as well as how the application is processed. Mrs. Beal explained
the six-week cycle menu, how the district meets the state guidelines, and how the menus are
developed. The foodservice managers meet on a monthly basis to discuss the menus, recipe
changes, updates, and state guidelines. The district receives USDA commodities that are
ordered in September on a monthly basis. Mrs. Beal felt that the portion sizes mandated by the
state are too much for elementary students and not enough for high school students and
athletes. Other responsibilities as Director include keeping all equipment in working order,
writing and managing grants, monthly state reports, union negotiations, responsible for the state
review and district audit as well as a support to her 18 staff members and seven kitchens.
Board member Walton expressed his concern regarding the number of choices available on the
menu in Woolwich compared to other schools and the amount of food that is thrown away. Mrs.
Beal responded that the breakfast menu in the smaller schools was cut as requested by the
cooks due to time restraints. Mrs. Beal reported that food served in school cafeterias cannot
leave the building according to state guidelines.
Chairperson Harkins stated that it would be beneficial for Board to have a list of items we do and
don’t make from scratch. Mr. Harkins asked what percent of the food that we bring into RSU 1
are we sourcing locally. Mrs. Beal responded RSU 1 received less than 10% due to the
expense. We have spoken to several local farmers and do buy Maine apples, potatoes and root
vegetables locally.
Walter Beesley from Child Nutrition Services in Augusta presented the Board with a copy of the
meal pattern that has to be followed in order to get federal and state reimbursement. K-8
schools have to be in the program while high schools can opt out. There are approximately
seven schools in the state of Maine that break even with the foodservice program because the
price of food is going up faster than the reimbursement. The lunch menu with new regulations is
expensive. More and more school districts are having a hard time trying to meet the meal
pattern. We have cut our food service program so much that if we cut any more we would be
hurting the program and decreasing sales. We need to work at increase the revenue by offering
quality food, having a good environment for the kids to enjoy their meal and give them time to
eat it. The meal pattern dictates the size of the meal.
Mr. Beesley stated that ways to increase participation are to advertise and promote, and go
where your customers are such as offering breakfast in the classrooms. The six-week cycle
menu is a plus because you can buy in bulk in get a bigger savings. The menu needs to meet
the wants and needs of your students while at the same time you have got to be able to meet
the meal pattern. In order to increase participation your menu and meals need to look good and
you have to advertise. Mr. Beesley hired a chef to go around to the different schools to teach
staff how to cook. We are going back to scratch cooking and getting more quality food but the
labor costs will increase.
Foodservice Director Ellen Beal reported that the menu is discussed during the monthly
manager’s meeting. The managers look at what works in each school and make decisions
depending what we get each month from commodities. Mrs. Beal reported that we have come
a long way with maintaining our equipment and have found that repair costs were down slightly
this year.
Mr. Beesley reported that he has found that attitude and atmosphere in the kitchen helps to
increase participation as well as meal choices and quality of the food. The school has an option
to put out a “no thank you” table for any sealed product that is not a hazardous food. The a la
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carte program does have some restrictions as stated in the Smart Snack Rule where only
certain items can be sold. For the reimbursable program, the district does get federal funding
along with some state funding. Districts are having difficulty with parents not paying their bills
and how much it is costing districts to collect the money from these unpaid bills.
Mrs. Beal stated that a large percent of her staff have been in the district for a long time and
continue working in our schools because they like feeding kids. So many of our kids come to
school with no breakfast and need to see a smiling face and get a good breakfast to begin their
day.
MHS BUILDING COMMITTEE REPORT
Superintendent Manuel reported that the subcommittees met on April 29th and we held our first
community forum that evening with approximately 40-50 people in attendance. The forum gave
the public an opportunity to learn more about the project and give their input. Environmental
testing is taking place on the potential new sites in the community. The next round of
subcommittee meetings will take place on June 2nd with the 2nd community forum that evening in
Montgomery Theater at 6:00 PM. Childcare and light snacks will be provided.
REAPPORTIONMENT COMMITTEE REPORT
Chairperson Harkins reported that the initial proposals were rejected by the Department of
Education because they did not conform to the one-man one-vote constitutional requirement.
Attorney Dick Spencer recommended a concept he felt that he could support and met the needs
of the committee. The committee agreed to have four seats meet the residential requirement by
having one representative from each community along with three at-large seats. All of the seats
would be elected by the entire population. The concept was voted on unanimously and
Drummond Woodsum will be drafting a letter to the Commissioner that will need to go out before
June 17th.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
Superintendent Manuel reported on the following:
 This is the second consecutive year that one of our teachers have been nominated
Sagadahoc County Teacher of the Year. Last year Eric Varney received that honor and
this year it was awarded to Johnna Stanton. Johnna is now a candidate for Maine
Teacher of the Year which will be announced next fall.
 Some events taking place this week are the BRCTC Recognition and Awards Ceremony
and Adult Education Graduation. Both events will be held in Montgomery Theater on
May 21st.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Business Manager Debra Clark presented the Financial Report ending April 30, 2015 which
shows that we have spent about 93.6% of the budget with the encumbered amount. We
continue to stay on target with no unexpected expenses. We have had only had one reduction
in state subsidy in MaineCare so far but expecting another one in June. We have 8 remaining
pays periods and our revenues are coming in as planned. The auditors will be in the district on
Wednesday and Thursday of this week.
REVIEW OF BOARD GOALS
The discussion was tabled this for meeting.
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PERSONNEL ITEMS
MOTION: August
SECOND: Perkins
VOTE: Board (5-0)
Students (2-0)
TO: Approve the following nominations as recommended:
 Beth Kaser, Literacy teacher, WCS
 Sandra Brann, 4th Grade teacher, PB
 Julia Kearns, 6th Grade Humanities teacher, BMS
FIELD TRIP REQUESTS
MOTION: August
SECOND: Perkins
VOTE: Board (5-0)
Students (2-0)
TO: Approve the out-of-state field trip request for Fisher-Mitchell 5th graders to visit Boston, MA.
VOTE TO AUTHORIZE AMENDMENTS TO MSMA UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION
DECLARATION OF TRUST
Business Manager Debra Clark reported that counsel reviewed the language of the Declaration
of Trust and suggested two changes. MSMA has requested that school districts throughout the
state bring the proposed amendments to the Board to authorize them to make this change.
RSU 1 belongs to the MSMA Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund and, therefore, will need
to vote to allow MSMA to act on behalf of the Trust and approve the changes as recommended.
MOTION: August
SECOND: Walton
VOTE: Board (4-1)
Students (2-0)
TO: Authorize amendments to MSMA Unemployment Compensation Declaration of Trust as
submitted by MSMA.
Be it hereby voted as follows:
RESOLVED:
That Regional School Unit 1 (the “District”), as a participant in the Maine School
Management Association Unemployment Compensation Insurance Trust Fund (the “Fund”),
hereby consents to certain amendments to the Fund’s Declaration of Trust described in the
attached document entitled Amendment of Declaration of Trust for Maine School Management
Association Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund (the “Declaration of Trust Amendment”);
RESOLVED: That the District be, and it hereby is, authorized to execute and deliver the
Declaration of Trust Amendment, and any and all other documents and instruments as may be
required from time to time to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Declaration of
Trust Amendment, and that the execution, acknowledgement and delivery of such Trust
Documents in the name of and on behalf of the District is hereby approved in all respects; and
RESOLVED: That Regional School Unit 1 be, and hereby is, authorized to execute and deliver
the Declaration of Trust Amendment and such other documents, certificates, agreements and
instruments as may be reasonably required, and to perform such further and additional actions
as may be necessary or convenient in order to effectuate the foregoing resolutions.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
None
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NEXT MEETING DATE AND LOCATION


District Budget Meeting; Tuesday, May 26, 2015 at Bath Middle School – 6:00 PM
Next regular Board meeting; Monday, June 22, 2015 at Bath Middle School – 6:00 PM
EXECUTIVE SESSION
MOTION: Perkins
SECOND: August
VOTE: Board (5-0)
Students (2-0)
TO: Enter into Executive Session to discuss labor contracts (Sagadahoc Education Association
and Council 93, American Federal of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFCSME) [1
MRSA 405 (6)(D)] at 7:34 PM.
RETURN TO GENERAL SESSION
APPROVE PROPOSED LABOR CONTRACTS
MOTION:
August
SECOND: Perkins
VOTE: Board (5-0)
TO: Approve the Agreement Between the RSU 1 Board of Directors and the Sagadahoc
Education Association (SEA) as written.
MOTION: August
SECOND: Perkins
VOTE: Board (5-0)
TO: Approve the Agreement Between the RSU 1 Board of Directors and Council 93, American
Federal of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFCSME) as written.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 8:15 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Patrick Manuel
Secretary
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