| Janet Clemons |
Due to the length and depth of the Board’s March business meeting, it has been covered in two parts. Read Part I here.
Out-of-State Field Trips. The Board unanimously approved an out-of-state trip for the GNGHS For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology robotics team (“FIRST”), to attend a competition at the University of New Hampshire from March 28 to March 30.
Under the guidance of Advisor/Coach Andrea Harvey and Mentors Stephen Goss and Beau Fairbrother, 10 FIRST students will travel to UNH and have been challenged to design, build, and program industrial-size robots. This year’s challenge is for two competing alliances to score notes, amplify their speaker, harmonize onstage, and take the spotlight before time runs out.
The Board also approved a trip for the GNGHS Cheering team to attend the New England Championships at Worcester State University in Massachusetts on March 16, 2024.
2024 – 2025 School Calendar. Chanda Turner, MSAD 15’s Curriculum Coordinator, presented the 2024-2025 school calendar. It is interesting to note that the MSAD calendar is not to deviate from the calendar of the Portland Arts and Technology High School by more than five days. Students will start back to school before the Labor Day holiday this coming school year. The Board unanimously accepted the 2024 – 2025 School Calendar as presented.
Business Manager Position. Personnel Committee Chair Jason Hart reported that after some research it has been determined that MSAD 15 has fewer administrators than districts of a similar size; others have at least one additional administrator. The Personnel Committee was asked to consider a recommendation for restructuring the district administrative staff.
At this time, the committee recommends to the board that a Business Manager position be added. This position will supervise accounts payable, payroll, and Human Resources and be under the responsibility of the Director of Finance and Operations. The Director of Finance and Operations will oversee the intricacies of all business operations as well as look for alternative sources of funding, while also coordinating Nutrition, Transportation, and Facilities so that are all operating efficiently in the best possible way. Currently a stipend is being paid to one of the principals to help oversee some aspects of the Transportation and Facilities departments.
This change in administrative structure is coming about as the current Director of Finance and Operations, whose position has absorbed many responsibilities over time, is retiring as of June 30, 2024. The Business Manager position will cost about $80,000 to $100,000. The Board unanimously approved creating the position of Business Manager.
Staffing Updates. Dr. Turner shared the process for determining staffing needs within MSAD 15. (In addition to what Dr. Turner presented to the board at this meeting, some of the information below comes from a report she shared with the Board, titled “Teacher Staffing Analysis Process for FY 25.”)
There is no national or state guidance for class size best practices, according to Dr. Turner. A literature review she completed shows that research in this area is divided. Based on the available research, district facility capacities, and the historical priorities of the board and community, MSAD 15 uses the following basic guideline for class sizes, she explained:
- Pre K: 15 students per class
- Kindergarten: not more than 15 students per class
- Grade 1-4: not more than 20 students per class
- Grade 5-12: not more than 24 students per class
The district then further examines how student enrollment is predicted to change over the next three to five years. This gives the opportunity to differentiate enrollment trends that will require response, over one-time population changes.
Finally, the district continually monitors teacher attrition. MSAD 15 values staff and believes that it is important to take opportunities for reductions during attrition as a way to avoid having to use the teacher contract Reduction in Force clause. Whenever there are teacher retirements or resignations, all the above factors are continued to determine if a position should be filled. In some cases, the district may opt to not fill a position even if it raises class sizes beyond the guidelines, if long-term enrollments appear to be declining. In other words, the district might opt to work through a year or two of higher class sizes if we can predict that the population enrollment over time will bring that class size back into range in the next year or two.
Turner concluded by saying that the MSAD 15 administration is recommending that the budget for 24-25 be reduced by one FTE (full-time equivalent) grade 2 position at Memorial School for one year only, and one FTE English position at the High School, with no new core teaching positions added.
Committee Reports. The Facilities Committee previewed the reports that Dr. King gave earlier in the meeting on the Air Quality Maine Department of Education School Revolving Renovation Fund, shared in NGX’s March School Board meeting report, part 1.
The Finance Committee reviewed the financial reports as they do each month. They were presented with a preview of the Financial Audit and the Air Quality Maine Department of Education School Revolving Renovation Fund reports. These reports were covered in NGX’s March School Board meeting report, part 1.
The Personnel Committee discussed the Business Manager position. The Curriculum Committee did not have a recent meeting.
The Policy Committee reviewed and made revisions to policy GBEC Drug Free Workplace, which the the board unanimously accepted. The committee also reviewed several policies that did not need revisions.
Superintendent Report. Since the last Board meeting there have been no new hires, retirements, or transfers. There has been one resignation. Erin Day, the art teacher at Dunn School, will be leaving at the end of this school year in June.
