MSSM Board Meeting Notes - October 25, 2004 in Augusta

Attendees: Sam "Sandy" Golden, Bill Shields, Bruce Hancock, Pat Philips, Dan Brown, Peg Copelin, Dave McCarthy, Stan Marshall, Joe Siddiqui, Linda B, Dave King, Norma O'Keefe, Cathy Bowker, Bill Bergen, Nancy Violette, Monroe Duboise, Nate Gardner, Paul Calder, Paul Meyer, Ben Lofton, Mike Edgecomb, Sarah Forster

Sandy Golden was introduced by Dr Bergen as a retired electrical engineer with ties to UMaine, and one of the Governor's nominees for the Board.

Bill Shields is the interim President of UMPI.

Pat Phillips is Deputy Commisioner of Education

Public Comment: short comments by Bruce Hancock, Paul Calder, Paul Meyer

Committee Reports:

Residential Life (Bergen) -

• Paul Calder reported to committee about ongoing effort to form dorm council at MSSM.
• Dr Bergen asked Nate for a written document describing his policy/practice of Residential Life as a means to continue Nate's improvements at MSSM after Nate leaves.
• Zero-tolerance discussion: current policy as written is not acceptable to the lawyer; Bruce agreed to re-word policy for further review.
• May Term - policy was re-worded to explicitly require May Term attendance each year (old wording was ambiguous; conveyed optional attendance).
• Policy passed to require annual physical by students from doctor, PA, or RNP.
• Academic calendar was approved following much discussion; mainly about definition of "school day" vis a vis state law.

External Affairs (King) -

• Grant writing - woman with Limestone Development Foundation has agreed to help with various grant-writing efforts;
• Problem of lack of Board representation from Limestone schools (LCS). Current LCS administration admitted problem, and stated that they would try harder.
• Following Nov 2 elections, committee will match up each MSSM student with State Rep, and notify Reps of their constituents in school at MSSM.
• Discussion about changing the make-up of MSSM Board, specifically less "restrictive seats", and more at-large members. Committee will draft legislation to submit for re-defining Board composition.
  
  Dr Bergen passed around a memo discussing establishment of ad hoc "Board Development Committee", essentially a committee to recruit sutiable candidates to sit on Board. A motion was made and passed to establish such an ad hoc committee.

Personnel (Copelin) -

• Exec Director search - 5 resumes received; 2 were passed on to Jerry Pieh, consultant taking on search pro bono. Reported that Pieh considers this job search "a challenge", but appears up to the task. Joe seems in place through remainder of 2004-05 school year.

Finance (McCarthy) -

• Mike E, Joe S, Sarah F met with Commissioner Gendron, reported that she was alarmed by the low number of students this year. They assured here that it was just a blip, and that number would be up again next year.
• $2200 in arrears due to 2004 yearbook. Motion passed to allow yearbook to solicit parent ads for next year.

Foundation Report (Marshall) - (no notes on this)

Bruce Hancock -

• Handed out copies of MSSM-PG bylaws
• Asked to formalize relationship between MSSM-PG and Board. Mike said that they would look at how to do this "at some point". Stan Marshall said the way to do it is to have a MSSM Board member serve as an ex officio member of the MSSM-PG.

Next Board Mtg - Decided on Sunday January 23 in Augusta. Joe had invited Board to meet in Limestone, stay at the school, but Peg Copelin encouraged otherwise (in order to have Dept of Ed rep and lawyer present.) Nate disagreed with the Board for this decision, and Board tentatively agreed to come to Limestone for April mtg.