Central Aroostook RPC Meeting
July 9, 2008
6:00 pm
Easton Elementary School Cafeteria
SAU’s Participating: Bridgewater, Easton, MSAD #42, MSAD #45
Members Present:
Bridgewater: Terri Allen; Wayne Bradbury; Nina Bradstreet; Duska Kingsbury; Ellen Schneider, Asst. Superintendent (Liaison)
Easton: Dave Hopkins; Mike Corey; Tom Osgood; Frank Keenan, Superintendent (Liaison)
MSAD #42: Greg Day; Nate Smith, James McClay; Todd Grass, Carolee Hallett
MSAD #45: Andrea Powers; Daren Churchill; Jerry Dow; Tim Humphrey; Michael McIntosh, Ed Buckley, Superintendent (Liaison)
Non-Members Present: Gerald Clockedile (RPC Facilitator); Kim Hall, Recording Secretary; Roger Sherman, Maine State Senator District #34
Members Absent: Theresa Cochran (MSAD #45); Jan Grieco (MSAD #45); Gehrig Johnson (Bridgewater Liaison); Butch Richardson (Bridgewater); Cary Schumacker (MSAD #45); Roger Shaw (MSAD #42 Liaison); Norm Trask (Easton)
1. The meeting was called to order at 6:03 PM in the Easton Elementary School cafeteria by Chairperson, Tom Osgood.
2. New Business:
a. Media Release – No comments.
3. Adjustments to the agenda – no adjustments.
4. Public Comment – No public comments.
5. Discussion/Questions:
a. Greg Day (MSAD #42) commented that there are several more approved plans posted on the DOE website.
b. Tom Osgood (Easton) commented that Falmouth has pulled their approved plan to change to an Alternative Plan.
c. Todd Grass (MSAD #42) stated that he had spoken to someone from the Houlton area who told him that they are having a difficult time with their plan because of the vast geographical area they are trying to consolidate.
6. Motion by Carolee Hallett (MSAD #42), 2nd by Greg Day (MSAD #42) to approve the minutes of the June 11, 2008 meeting. Approved 16-0.
7. Motion by Todd Grass (MSAD #42), 2nd by Greg Day (MSAD #42) to approve the minutes of the June 18, 2008 meeting. Approved 15-0-1.
8. Report on Drummond, Woodsum workshop of 6/19, “School Reorganization 2008: Changes that Affect Reorganization Planning” by Jake Clockedile.
Mr. Clockedile gave a short synopsis of the major point of the workshop. He stated that the main points covered were Alternative Organizational Structures and the revisions to the consolidation law.
There was discussion of the timeline for submission of the plan to the Commissioner being November 1st based on the assumption that review of the plan at the state level would take up to 30 days; however, turnaround time for review and return of plans has historically only taken up to 14 days with RSU’s generally able to make changes and return the plan for approval within 3 days.
Mr. Clockedile also cautioned members to be aware that the rules for a referendum vote differ for SAD’s and municipalities. SAD’s require 45 days notice for a referendum vote, whereas the requirements differ for municipalities. He encouraged members to contact their town clerks to determine what the individual requirements are for the municipalities.
One of the changes in the consolidation law states that existing bargaining units may stay in existence for up to three years, but by August 2012 a decision needs to be made to consolidate contracts.
Mr. Clockedile emphasized that once a plan is approved the new board must hire an interim secretary who will be responsible for all aspects of the election process.
Also, if there is a union group that covers a majority of particular support staff classification, the remaining unrepresented employees will be absorbed by the existing union. Mr. Keenan requested clarification with regard to multi-year contracts vs. unions. Mr. Clockedile stated that the contract will be honored before the union absorbs the other employees or a vote for union representation needs to be held.
Carolee Hallett (MSAD #42) requested clarification with regard to the difference in timeline requirements between SAD’s and municipalities. Mr. Clockedile stated that SAD’s and municipalities are governed by different laws.
9. Sub-Committee questions/concerns:
a. Mr. Clockedile stated that he had again brought copies of approved plans and a completed organizational chart for one new RSU for use by sub-committees.
b. Carolee Hallett (MSAD #42) requested that if anyone knew of any petitions that had been gathered at the June primaries, Skip Greenlaw would like them ASAP so that the can be submitted to the state on or before August 15. She went on to state that Skip is very close to having the 55,000 signatures required to force a referendum vote.
10. Members broke out into sub-committee groups at 6:30 pm.
11. Reports of Sub-Committees:
a. Contracts/Educational Planning: Spokesperson Mr. Day (MSAD #42) reported that this sub-committee is moving along nicely. They have completed comparisons of salaries and insurance costs if each district’s teachers were to move to Easton’s contract numbers. The committee plans to do a similar comparison for support staff and should have a draft at the next meeting for full committee review.
b. Finance: Spokesperson Mr. McIntosh (MSAD #45) reported that the Finance Committee is still in the process of collecting information. There has been some discussion regarding cost-sharing and the committee is finding that this will be very difficult to determine. At some point the Finance and Contract sub-committees will have to meet together and collaborate.
c. Disposition of Property: Spokesperson Mr. Grass (MSAD #42) reported that it is the consensus of this sub-committee that all current school remain open and they should have a draft ready for the next meeting as to what each district is planning for their individual properties, the draft will then be presented to the committee for review.
d. Governance: Alternate Spokesperson Mr. Dow (MSAD #45) reported that the Governance committee is making progress in determining the size of the new RSU board and the possibility of a weighted voting procedure. They plan to also have a draft ready for presentation at the next meeting.
12. Other Discussion Item:
a. Mr. Clockedile questioned who would be responsible for creating the draft documents from each sub-committee for presentation to the full committee. Mr. Osgood stated that Mrs. Hall will be responsible for typing and distribution, the committee agreed.
b. Mr. Osgood (Easton) asked if there had been any conversations with MSAD #20 with regard to their leaving their current RPC to join us. Mr. Keenan stated that he had spoken with Superintendent Gendron who asked if our RPC was looking at an (alternative organizational structure) of governance, but not about that particular subject. Mr. Clockedile explained that, if MSAD #20 were to want to change their RSU, MSAD #20 would have to make a request of our RPC to join. Our RPC would have to approve that request unanimously. New letters of intent would have to be submitted to the Commissioner from each district and be approved again.
13. Facilitator Summary comments: Mr. Clockedile stated that he would obtain the financial template from the Department of Education for our RPC. He will send the template to Mr. Osgood and/or Mrs. Hall to be distributed to the committee members.
14. Next meeting date: The next meeting date was confirmed for July 16, 2008 at 6:00 pm in the Easton Elementary cafeteria. Approved by consensus.
15. Next Meeting suggested/additional agenda items: No additions requested.
16. Meeting was adjourned by Mr. Osgood at 8:50 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kimberly Hall
Recording Secretary
Central Aroostook RPC Membership
Name Community Phone E-mail
Terri Allen Bridgewater 425-2161 polyop61@hotmail.com
Wayne Bradbury Bridgewater 227-2828 janet@pioneercable.net
Nina Bradstreet Bridgewater 429-8130 ninab@stepstones4youth.org
Duska Kingsbury Bridgewater 425-7149 duska@pwless.net
Butch Richardson Bridgewater 429-8811 rrichardson2ainop.com
Ellen Schneider* Bridgewater 764-4101 ellen.schneider@sad1.org
Gehrig Johnson* Bridgewater 764-4101 gehrig@sad1.org
Norman Trask Easton 764-4193 ntrask@curriertrask.com
Michael Corey Easton 488-6917 mcorey@hydroblendinc.com
Tom Osgood Easton 488-6932 tosgood@mamusg.com
Dave Hopkins Easton 227-3446 dhopkins@ces-maine.com
Frank Keenan* Easton 488-7700 frank.keenan@eastonschooldistrict.org
Roger Shaw* MSAD #42 425-3771 rshaw@sad42.k12.me.us
Nathan Smith MSAD #42 429-8095 polisciguy02@hotmail.com
James McClay MSAD #42 227-8606 jmcclay@amhc.org
Greg Day MSAD #42 425-5301 gskkday@verizon.net
Carolee Hallett MSAD #42 425-2242 carolee@07me.com
Todd Grass MSAD #42 429-9497 toddgrass@hotmail.com
Daren Churchill MSAD #45 455-4046 dschurchill@verizon.net
Andrea Powers MSAD #45 455-1002 townmanager@washburnmaine.org
Jerry Dow MSAD #45 455-5913 perhamtown@yahoo.com
Michael McIntosh MSAD #45 455-4812 m_mcintosh@yahoo.com
Jan Grieco MSAD #45 455-4907 jangrieco@ainop.com
Theresa Cochran MSAD #45 455-5865 tcochran@ainop.com
Edward Buckley* MSAD #45 455-8301 edpbuckley@yahoo.com
Cary Schumacker MSAD #45
Tim Humphrey MSAD #45 455-4988 jandthumphrey@aol.com
Jake Clockedile Old Orchard 205-5334 ggclock@gwi.net