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Home My WebLink About2021-03-10 School Committee MinutesMINUTES BANGOR SCHOOL COMMIHEE REGULAR MEETING via ZOOM MARCH 10,2021 School Committee Members Present:Chair Carin Sychterz;Vice Chair Marwa Hassanien;Warren Caruso;John Hiatt;Clare Mundell;Susan Sorg;and Timothy Surrette. A.1 &2.The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m.by Chair Sychterz and the Pledge of Allegiance followed. B.1.a.Interim Superintendent Harris-Smedberg recommended approval to the adjustment to the agenda to add the Penobscot Community Health Care’s proposal for a School-Based Health Center at Bangor High School. VOTED 7-0 by roll call vote to approve the adjustment to the agenda to add Penobscot Community Health Care’s proposal for a School-Based Health Center at Bangor High School. D.1.a.Interim Superintendent Harris-Smedberg recommended the Committee move forward with Penobscot Community Health Care’s Proposal to submit a grant for a School-Based Health Center at Bangor High School. VOTED 7-0 by roll call vote to approve Penobscot Community Health Care’s Proposal to submit a grant for a School-Based Health Center at Bangor High School. D.2.a.Interim Superintendent Harris-Smedberg shared the Superintendent’s Academic Excellence Award for 2021.The following seniors received the award: 1.Meaghan Caron 2.Tobias Coffey 3.Margaret Cowperthwaite 4.Georgia Doore 5.Gordon Doore 6.Adam Elkadi 7.Alyssa Elliot 8.Griffin Erb 9.James Fahey 10.Elizabeth Fleming 11.Nicholas Geiser 12.Bryce Johnston 13.David Jueng 14.Willow Knapp 15.Emily LeClair 16.Connor Lehan 17.Anna MacDonald 18.Lyrica Marsh 19.Erin McCarthy 20.Regan McKay 21.Hailey McMahon 22.Liam Moynihan 23.Joshua Mullins 24.Sophia Mullins 25.Wells Mundell-Wood 26.Addison Nichols 27.Leah Noack 28.Naomi Noack 29.Paige Ravenscraft 30.Tyler Reilly 31.Owen Smiley 32.Gavin Sychterz 33.Andrew Szwez 34.Samanthak Thiagarajan 35.Vetri Vel 36.Zackery Wellman 37.Francine Wilson-Charuk D.2.c.Interim Superintendent Harris-Smedberg reported the following retirements: Ashley Gallant Speech/Language Pathologist Bangor High School Lisa Shirley Grade 4 Teacher Mary Snow School Laurie Hancock Title 1/Reading Recovery Teacher Downeast School Lori Thurlow Speech/Language Pathologist Downeast School Albert Moores Principal Downeast School D.2d.Interim Superintendent Harris-Smedberg reported the following resignation: Chelsea Lowe Assistant Track Coach James F.Doughty School E.1.a.Interim Superintendent Harris-Smedberg recommended approval of the Draft Minutes of the February 22,2021 Special School Committee Meeting,the February 24,2021 Regular School Committee meeting,and the March 1,2021 Special School Committee Meeting. Member Hiatt requested that the February 22,2021,Special School Committee Minutes be amended to reflect participants who are Bangor citizens,not just their title. VOTED 7-0 by roll call vote to amend the February 22,2021,Special School Committee Minutes be amended to reflect participants who are Bangor citizens, not just their title. VOTED 7-0 by roll call vote to approve the amended Draft Minutes of the February 22,2021 Special School Committee Meeting,and Draft Minutes of the February 24,2021 Regular School Committee meeting and the March 1,2021 Special School Committee Meeting. E.1.b.VOTED 7-0 by roll call vote to approve the following Extra-Duty Assignments: Rebecca Bosco Pathway Mentor Vine Street School Alyson Brown Pathway Mentor James F.Doughty School lKristi Charette Pathway Mentor Fairmount School Ashley Enright Pathway Mentor Downeast School Stephanie Hendrix Pathway Mentor Bangor High School Rachel Larrabee Pathway Mentor William S.Cohen School Brandi LeRoy Pathway Mentor Bangor High School Kristi Morrow Pathway Mentor Mary Snow School Lindsay Savage Pathway Mentor Fourteenth Street School Shannon Shaw Pathway Mentor Abraham Lincoln School Thomas True Pathway Mentor William S.Cohen School Maynard Walton Pathway Mentor James F.Doughty School Leah Welch Pathway Mentor Fruit Street School E.1.c.VOTED 7-0 by roll call vote and many thanks to approve the following donations: To Bangor High School from Marshall’s Department Store,masks,hand sanitizer, and accessories,having a total dollar value of $1,200. To Fruit Street School from Marshall’s Department Store,kids’masks,having a total dollar value of $1,748.50. To Downeast School from Julie Sleeper of Realty of Maine,a debit card to support students,having a total dollar value of $200. F.Vice Chair Hassanien moved to suspend the rules that prohibited the School Committee from allowing the community to speak out of agenda order.Member Hiatt seconded the motion.Member Sorg added this would be a one-time exception due to the technology issue that prevented people from logging into the meeting on time. VOTED 5-1-1 to suspend the rules that prohibited the School Committee from allowing the community to speak out of turn. Yes:Vice Chair Hassanien,Member Hiatt,Member Mundell,Member Surrette, Chair Sychterz No:Member Caruso Abstained:Member Sorg Public Comment: Kristine Jarnich of 22 Beech Street,Bangor,petitioned the School Committee to allow spring sports at the Middle Schools. Wuanita Quinn of 350 Howard Street,Bangor,read a statement from a student, Rhiannon Bousquet,requesting the Eighth Grade Send Off Dance and spring sports occur.Ms.Quinn also shared the need for more social workers at WSCS, the desire that spring sports occur,and equality of winter sports between the two Middle Schools. Vice Chair Hassanien and Member Hiatt asked if WSCS could have the Send Off Dance.Interim Superintendent said more details would be needed and any activity would have to follow CDC guidelines of safety. Member Mundell asked what the plans were for graduation and prom.Principal Butler provided an update. Member Surrette reported on the Drop Out Committee.Member Surrette reported BHS graduation rates remain steady in the mid 80%.FY20 graduation rates are not yet available.Attendance Specialist,Kathleen Vorenkamp shared work she is doing to help increase student attendance.Truancy report was reviewed. Member Hiatt reported on the United Technology Committee.The first reading of the budget was shared,as well as the budget process.Member Sorg shared the addition of a new program allowing sophomores to attend an introductory semester course that would outline the 20 courses available. Vice Chair Hassanien reported the Diversity,Equity,and Inclusion Committee will be meeting on Friday,March 12,2021 in public meeting. Chair Sychterz and Member Surrette updated the School Committee on the Superintendent Search. Hi.Important Dates: Monday,March 15,2021 Special Workshop Meeting -6:00 p.m.ZOOM Wednesday,March 24,2021 Regular Meeting —7:00 p.m.ZOOM Wednesday,March 31,2021 Regular Meeting —7:00 p.m.ZOOM Wednesday,April 14,2021 Regular Meeting—7:00 p.m.ZOOM Wednesday,April 28,2021 Regular Meeting—7:00 p.m.ZOOM 1.1.Member Hiatt asked when the School Committee could meet in person again. Interim Superintendent responded that a plan following the Governor’s and CDC guidelines would need to be in place.Chair Sychterz asked School Committee members if they had reservations about meeting in public and would pursue looking into it. Member Hiatt asked for an update on Bangor school educators and staff.Interim Superintendent Harris-Smedberg provided the update. Committee members extended wishes to Principal Butler for a happy birthday, and congratulations and best wishes to Principal Mooers on his impending retirement. i.At 9:31 p.m.VOTED 7-0 by roll call vote to adjourn. Respectfully submitted, In Ph.D. erintendent of Schools