September Regular Meeting

Note: Transcripts are generated from video auto-captions. While highly accurate, they are non-official and do not meet State Archivist record-keeping requirements.

• 0:00
  Call to Order and Roll Call

  The meeting is called to order, and the roll is taken.
• 0:02
  Chair's Report (DeAngelis)

  Chair DeAngelis announces the next regular meeting on October 14th, a board retreat on September 21st, and two upcoming public forums on elementary reconfiguration.
• 0:02
  Student Representative Report (Lizeth Rios Blas)

  Student Representative Rios Blas reports a smooth start to the school year across all levels. She notes the successful implementation of the new cell phone policy at the high school and updates on adult education programs.
• 0:04
  Superintendent's Report (Dr. Atkinson Duina)

  Dr. Atkinson Duina provides a detailed overview of summer work and the start of the school year. She highlights new elementary leadership, pre-K expansion, grant applications for secondary schools, and major projects by the operations and technology departments.
• 0:13
  Cell Phone Policy Safety Update (Dr. Atkinson Duina)

  The Superintendent addresses parent concerns about safety related to the new cell phone policy. She explains that safety experts and local police agree that phones can be a distraction and hindrance in emergencies, and outlines the district's communication protocols.
• 0:18
  Board Discussion on Superintendent's Report

  Board members ask clarifying questions about the superintendent's report.

  • 0:18 Claire Holman
    Asks which staff members are using the new digital time cards.
  • 0:19 Eleni Richardson
    Inquires about the status of middle school grant applications and the value of those grants. She also raises concerns about special education staffing vacancies in light of the recent reduction in force.
  • 0:26 Dr. Jo Prince
    Clarifies that all impacted support staff from the reduction in force were offered positions. She states the current vacancies are similar to previous years and are a persistent challenge in the special education field.
• 0:27
  Enrollment Report (Dr. Atkinson Duina)

  The Superintendent reports current enrollment at 2,739 students. This number is down slightly from the last report but remains stable compared to October of the previous year.
• 0:29
  Public Comment

  The first public comment session features several candidates for the at-large school board seat, union representatives, and community members discussing a range of topics including the budget, bullying, and school start times.

  • 0:30 Stephanie Edwards
    Introduces herself as a candidate for the at-large school board seat. As a parent and former teacher in the district, she emphasizes thoughtful fiscal responsibility, supporting staff, and improving communication and transparency.
  • 0:33 Carl Parsons
    Speaking as a school board candidate, he advocates for long-term planning for stability, exploring new revenue sources beyond property taxes, and ensuring a careful, considerate process for elementary reconfiguration.
  • 0:36 Jennifer Marshall
    Speaking on behalf of school employee unions, she asks what the district is doing to address bullying at all school levels, referencing a student who spoke at the previous meeting.
  • 0:37 Ishmeel Daniels
    Introduces himself as an at-large school board candidate. He positions himself as a blue-collar parent who will ask common-sense questions and push for genuine transparency, communication, and diversity.
  • 0:40 Sarah Cohen
    A parent of four, she expresses excitement for new leadership and asks for an update on the proposal for a single middle school start time, noting the health recommendations for later start times for adolescents. She also questions the potential for bias in AI-generated district surveys.
  • 0:43 Corinne Altham
    A school librarian, she speaks against the proposed policy change to limit public comment, arguing it restricts intellectual freedom. She also notes inequities in the current one-year elementary configuration.
  • 0:46 Helen Clancy
    Introduces herself as a candidate for City Council. She expresses a desire for more regular collaboration between the City Council and the School Board, particularly around the budget process.
• 0:47
  Board Response to Public Comment

  Chair DeAngelis and Superintendent Atkinson Duina respond to questions raised during public comment. They confirm committee meetings are public, promise a future report on anti-bullying efforts, and state they are meeting with the DOT about middle school start times.
• 0:50
  Finance Committee Report (Claire Holman)

  Member Holman reports that the FY26 budget is closing with a minimal overage of about $1,085, which is excellent news. She notes the upcoming annual audit and the ongoing process of setting financial encumbrances for the new fiscal year.
• 0:53
  Board Discussion on Fund Balance

  Member Richardson expresses grave concern that while the budget is balanced, it leaves the district with no fund balance, which she views as an irresponsible financial position. Chair DeAngelis and the Superintendent argue against asking the city for a fund balance transfer, stating the district should manage its own finances and that the city remains a partner in case of a true emergency.
• 1:00
  Policy Committee Report (DeAngelis)

  Chair DeAngelis reports that the committee is bringing forward the second read of the personal electronic device policy and the first read of proposed changes to the public participation policy.
• 1:01
  Buildings & Grounds Committee Report (Daniel Feller)

  Member Feller reports that the middle school's solar array is generating surplus electricity, and a contingency plan is being developed for Skillin Elementary's aging boiler. He also provides an update on the high school athletic complex project, which is in the design and permitting phase.
• 1:07
  Consent Agenda Approval

  The board unanimously approves the consent agenda, which includes meeting minutes, several personnel appointments for one-year-only positions, and a book donation from Dirigo Reads.
• 1:12
  Vote on Policy JIJC-R (Cell Phones)

  The board holds the second and final read of the policy on personal electronic devices. Member Richardson expresses her joy at hearing reports of a peaceful and serene atmosphere in the schools since implementation.
• 1:14
  Vote on Policy BEDH (Public Participation)

  The board holds the first read of proposed changes to the public participation policy. The changes include adding time for interpreters, eliminating the ability to yield time to another speaker, and establishing a 10:00 PM hard stop for meetings.
• 1:23
  Public Comment

  The second public comment session focuses heavily on the district's financial situation and the proposed changes to the public participation policy. Speakers also raised questions about Kaler's assets, screen time, and portable classroom safety.

  • 1:24 Bill Newton
    Questions how the large budget deficit was reduced to just $1,000 and argues that this outcome, leaving no fund balance, shows it was foolish not to raise taxes slightly more. He urges the board to act in the school department's best interest, not out of fear of the city council.
  • 1:25 Aidan Renaghan
    Echoes concerns about the lack of a fund balance to handle emergencies. He strongly opposes the proposed elimination of yielding time during public comment, arguing it curtails necessary dialogue from union reps and others on complex issues and reflects a lack of trust in the community.
  • 1:29 Ishmeel Daniels
    Asks on behalf of the Kaler community where items such as furniture and equipment from the closed school have been relocated. He requests an itemized list or a way for the community to find out where these assets went.
  • 1:30 Don Ladd
    Expresses concern over his 52% property tax increase over four years and the district's history of material weaknesses in its audits. He asks if account reconciliations are now occurring monthly to prevent budget overspending and financial surprises.
  • 1:32 Carl Parsons
    Argues that the school board cannot solve the city's affordability crisis through budget cuts alone. He advocates for working with the City Council to address root causes like daycare costs, rather than repeatedly cutting school resources.
  • 1:35 Lauren Shapiro
    Requests a detailed class-by-class enrollment breakdown and asks for guidelines on classroom screen time. She also re-raises concerns about the safety of portable classrooms and asks what is being done to foster a more inclusive environment in the middle school lunchroom.
• 1:38
  Board Response to Public Comment

  The board records several questions for follow-up. Finance Director Abigail Keshin comes to the podium to address financial questions, confirming that monthly reconciliations are a work in progress and a major focus for her new team.
• 1:43
  Board Communications

  Board members share announcements and reflections. Topics include the need for an AI policy, thanks for a local music festival, information on child investment accounts (Trump Accounts), and self-introductions from incumbent candidates running for re-election.
• 1:53
  Adjournment

  The meeting is adjourned.