KidsRSU

Since that time, we have met weekly, alternating regular meetings with subcommittee meetings. Currently we have subcommittees working in the following areas: Policy & Personnel Chaired by Tracey Woodman; Buildings & Grounds / Food Services / Transportation Chaired by Rich Howard; Finance & Budgeting Chaired by Gary Getchell; and Negotiations (Chair not voted on as of yet).

The Board would like to keep the communities informed of the progress being made. We want folks to know that all minutes, meeting times and places, and agenda’s are posted on our website: http://www.kidsrsu.org. We also realize that not everybody uses or has a computer so we will be sending out Review’s, such as this one, periodically. 

The Policy & Personnel subcommittee has been working on getting RSU policies in place, reviewing job descriptions to accommodate the RSU positions and Central Office administrative roles.

The Buildings & Grounds / Food Services / Transportation subcommittee has Joan Drappeau and Sarah McNaughton focusing on Food Services, Jon Lambert and Rich Howard focusing on Transportation and Mark Pearson and Rich Howard focusing on Buildings and Grounds. 

Within these areas of focus for B&G are an Operations and Maintenance budget for ‘life safety’ concerns, researching State and Federal assistance that is or may become available, and the process of deed and title transfer. Food Services have gathered data in relation to district budget, year end balances, food production, subsidy rates and technological accounts. The Transportation Committee has begun initial review of all district transportation processes for immediate and long-term efficiencies. All areas have completed job descriptions for positions within the RSU.

Finance and Budgeting has worked on a calendar to include public meetings prior to the public hearing and budget voting on warrant articles. Currently, they are preparing for budget information from each school unit so they can merge the data into one RSU budget. They will be busy with this process after March 1st. In addition, the Finance & Budget subcommittee will accept the responsibility of overseeing technology expenditures and programming, and review current services and practices.

The RSU Administrative Team has been awarded a $5000 Dept of Ed planning grant to create a short and long range strategic plan for improved student achievement. We also recently received notification that the RSU will be eligible to apply for a grant up to $25,000 to help with the acquisition of business software and computer hardware to unify all financial functions and accounting procedures.

By the beginning of the school year in September, all RSU #2 staff will have been trained and schools will be operational with Infinite Campus, which is a comprehensive student information system with parental access of student academic and behavior activities.  This service has been provided to all districts in Maine by the Dept of Ed. 

Legislators Sen. Earle McCormick(R), Sen. Seth Goodall (D), Rep. Sharon Treat (D), and Rep. Les Fossil (R) recently attended a Board meeting to discuss concerns regarding Budget Validation Referendum, start-up costs assistance, status of Funding Stream for Economic Stimulus allocation, and how RSU #2 can be helpful to the Legislators. We are all committed to working together in these and other areas of the education process. 

It is our intent to encourage people to get involved, attend meetings, ask questions, add the website to “Favorites” and visit it often. 

- Submitted by Tracey Woodman, RSU #2 Board Member

KIDS RSU #2
RSU Transition Team and (newly elected) Board of Directors Meeting
November 13, 2008 5:30 P.M.
Hall-Dale Elementary School

Present:  Board of Directors Joan Drapeau, Dawn Gallagher, Gary Getchell, James Grandahl, Rich Howard, Jon Lambert, O’Neil LaPlante, Linda Leet, Sarah McNaughton, Cory Munsey, Mark Pearson and Tracey Woodman

Transition Team Mike Rogers, John Ottum, Don Siviski, John Armentrout, Martha Witham, Cindy McPherson and Rick Cote

Guest(s): Pamela Bruno MacDonald

Absent:  Transition Team Members Leighton Carver, Jim Wallace, Michaela Loisel, Pam Longfellow, Janna Kinney and Lee Duff

The meeting began with introductions of all members attending.

In reference to their official / unofficial status the newly elected RSU Board of Directors requested that a notary public attend the tentatively scheduled 1st official meeting to conduct the “oath of office” procedure for the whole Board.

The Transition Team sub-committees presented data gathered over the last three months to the RSU Board.

Central Office Committee – O’Neil LaPlante, John Ottum and Mike Rogers recommended that the draft administrative flow chart is sound and should be accepted except for the additional position of an Assistant Superintendent. The position would basically include responsibilities for Curriculum Coordinator and a “sunset three year term” as Asst. Superintendent to assist the new district make the transition from four School Administrative Units to one Regional School Unit. The Committee also stated that job descriptions have been completed for these positions.

Buildings & Grounds, Food Services and Transportation Committee – Rick Cote and Joan Drapeau distributed reports which included significant data gathered from all four districts for the Board to review. The Committee had not yet analyzed the data to draw any conclusions yet shared some initial insights as to how one SAU’s practices may benefit the region.

Information and Communication Technology Committee – John Armentrout and Jim Grandahl presented a report summary and recommendations for the Board to consider within their first official 90 days. The recommendations were categorized into three sections.

1. Implementation Freeze / Assessment
2. Infinite Campus Implementation
3. Organizational Review

Additionally a detailed spreadsheet was developed and is posted on the KIDSRSU.org website.

Policy Committee – Martha Witham presented an update on completed sections of the Policy Manual which reflect the boiler plate document drafts from Maine School Management Association. Sections A and B will be mailed and also sent electronically to all RSU Board members prior to the December 9, 2008 first official meeting so that Directors can be prepared to take 1st Reading action.

Don Siviski then shared statute information (Title 20A MSRA, Section 1461-1511, Chpt 103A, 1-6) and recommended topics for the RSU first Board meeting as well as fielding questions from the group.

1. Oath of Office from Notary Public
2. Elect Chair and Vice-Chair, determine length of terms, i.e. 1 year, 2 years, 3 years (initial terms), determine rate of pay ($/meeting or $/year).
3. First Reading Policies
4. Hiring Process and Salary/Benefits of Superintendent (6 month interim period, July 1, 2009 and beyond)
5. Meeting Schedule of RSU Board
6. Budget Calendar and Expectation of SAU’s
7. Standing Committees and Meeting Schedule, Status of Transition Team
8. Communication Plan of RSU to 5 Towns
9. Orientation Workshop, MSMA

The meeting adjourned at ¬¬¬¬¬6:55 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Donald L. Siviski
Secretary

DLS/src